Bible Again

To understand the real depth, length, and breadth of Christ’s love for all those who are lost, we would like to recount the following true story:

When there was the California gold rush in the middle of the 19th century, there was a certain man who set out on a journey there. He left his family intending to call for them when happiness smiles on him and he acquires money. A long time had passed yet he had not been able to accomplish his purpose. At last, he was able to get just enough money for his wife to come to him, covering her travel expenses. The woman took a steamship from New York with her boy, and the ship was about to sail around South America and San Francisco. Not long after the ship set out, a shout was heard: “Fire! Fire!” The passengers immediately looked around and perceived the dire situation. The steamship had loaded gunpowder and since the captain feared that the fire would reach the gunpowder stacks and the ship with explode, he commanded for the lifeboats to be let down immediately. But they were very small. In a few moments, all the boats were packed. When the last boat was about to depart, the mother with her boy began to ask the crew to take her in the boat with her son. She pleaded in such a heart-rendering manner that at last they called out to her: “Every boat is packed. One more person only can enter in.” Shall she jump into the boat and leave her son? No, she takes the boy, she hugs him once more and she caresses him gently, and then she lets him jump into the lifeboat. “My son,” she shouted out after him, “if you should stay alive and go to your father, tell him that I have died for you.”

What a wonderful love of a mother! And how much greater is the love of the Savior, Jesus Christ, and of the Father in heaven! While this mother died because of love for her only, innocent son, God manifested His love to us while we were yet sinners and enemies to Him.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8.

As the boy experienced a deadly disaster, so is man in deadly danger. He would have died, had not the Son of God come to the rescue. God’s dear Son gave his life as a sacrifice for man. He let man take his place in the lifeboat (as per the illustration) and He ransomed him by giving his own life for him.

Is not this an expression of the grandest love that has ever been manifested in heaven or on earth? Does not this Redeemer deserve the affection of fallen humanity?

“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14.

It was reported that the boy who was saved in the lifeboat was able to get to his father and he became a renowned man. What would have happened with him if he had spoken with indifference and even with contempt about his mother who had sunk in the depths of the sea to save the life of her son? Yet this is exactly what many people do today – people who have forgotten about Jesus Christ and who even scorn Him! Reader, I beseech you, do not stay indifferent and do not overlook the goodness of Him who cast himself unto death for your sake. You have been redeemed and you live due to His self-sacrifice! The prints from the nails on His body are to be an eternal reminder of the salvation from sure death that was purchased for you.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” 1 Peter 1:18-21.