It Was a Dark and Stormy Night …

A small passenger ferry, far from shore, was being tossed about in the fierce gale. Eventually the ship capsized and sank, leaving all the passengers struggling in the cold water. Soon, a helicopter appeared overhead and a rescuer was lowered on a rope. He dropped into the water with the drowning passengers and called them to grasp onto the rope and be lifted into the helicopter.

Those who responded were ferried to land and given medical assistance. Their lives were saved. Strangely though, many refused the offer to be rescued. Some thought they could make it to shore on their own. Others said they didn’t trust the helicopter or the rescuer. Sadly, all who refused to be rescued died in the sea that night. They were all called, but only those who obeyed the call were saved. There were others, blown farther away by the wind, who never heard the call. Some of them might have been saved if they had heard the call, but unfortunately they drowned too.

We all are in a sea of despair, with no chance of saving ourselves. Our rescuer, Jesus, has dropped into our world, taking our place, and calls us to cling to him to be saved. There is no way we can save ourselves. But if we trust him, he will heal our spirits and give us new life. In the face of such a wonderful, free offer of salvation, it seems strange that many refuse to be rescued, thinking maybe they can save themselves. My concern is for those who are too far away to hear the call. If they knew about the Savior, they would possibly be saved. Who will go tell them?