The tragic story of the S.S. TITANIC is well known to many - some of the survivors are still alive testify of the terrifying ordeal when this giant ship slid to her doom in the icy waters of the Atlantic, carrying most of her burden of souls to a watery grave.
Two men stood on this wonderful ship on her maiden voyage, watching the setting sun which had shone brilliantly through the Sunday of April 14th, 1912, four days after she left Southampton. As they leaned over the forward rail, one said to his companion, “ We’ll have a beautiful day tomorrow.” They both retired to their luxurious cabins, but, for the speaker and nearly 1,600 others, that “beautiful tomorrow” was an empty mirage, and a dread awakening for probably most.
What about your tomorrow, reader? Would you be ready to meet your God if the summons came tonight?
The Bible clearly advises us, “ Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth “ (Prov.27:1). There is a solemn statement in Numbers 16:5, when Moses warned the rebellious Korah, “ Even tomorrow the Lord will show who are His .”
Perhaps that “ tomorrow ” is nearer to all of us than we realise, as with the man referred to in this story.
The designer of the ship, TITANIC, was on board when he sank, and we are told that towards the closing moments of his life, before the final plunge, he stood in the smoking room, looking at the mural on the wall with the above caption, his lifebelt laid to one side, contemplating the end of what had been a beautiful dream on the part of the designer, owners, and the public - what his thoughts must have been can be supposed - the hopelessness of the tragedy would still the master-hand, as the icy waters soon stilled his very life.
How many are vainly dreaming of better things to come while they leave God out of their reckoning, little thinking of the hopelessness of their state, apart from God and His redeeming love in the gift of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Two hours and 40 minutes after she struck the iceberg, the TITANIC sank beneath the icy waters. Some hundreds in lifeboats, rafts, and others clinging to pieces of wood as long as the icy waters would permit them, tried to await rescue. Amongst the survivors was such a man, clinging to a board. He drifted near the preacher John Harper, also in the same icy waters. John Harper shouted, “ ARE YOU SAVED? ” He answered “No.” Harper’s answer was, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Later, they drifted close to each other once more, and the drowning Christian repeated the same question and received the same answer. He uttered again the Divine remedy for perishing souls, “ Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” The drowning Harper released his hold in the icy waters, and was “at home with the Lord”. The man he sought to win at last was amongst those who were rescued by the S.S. Carpathia’s lifeboats, and, as he himself said, he was John Harper’s last convert. He trusted Christ, as John Harper had bidden him do!
The rich, the poor and the middle class alike stood on the sinking vessel when the tragic truth developed that THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM IN THE LIFEBOATS FOR ALL! They never thought of their need beforehand. How sad!
How many today on the voyage of life think of their need of the Gospel, some, alas! leaving it until it is too late! But, thank God, THERE IS ROOM ENOUGH FOR ALL IN GOD’S “WHOSOEVER”. “ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16)
It is said that when the great ship TITANIC sank on its maiden voyage to America, the scene outside the White Star office in Liverpool, England, beggared description. A great crowd of the relatives and friends of those had taken passage on the ill-fated vessel thronged the street.
On either side of the main entrance a large board had been placed. Above one was printed in large letters, “KNOWN TO BE SAVED”, and on the other, “ KNOWN TO BE LOST”. Every now and then a man would appear from the office bearing a piece of cardboard on which was written the name of one of the passengers. As he stood at the entrance and faced the crowd and held up the name, a deathly stillness crept over the great congregation. they watched breathlessly to see which of the boards he would pin the name, either on the side of the “saved” or the “lost”. That crowd realised there were but two classes among those who had travelled on that ship.
So it is with mankind in the journey of life. When the “iceberg”, DEATH, strikes its fatal blow, there are but two classes in Eternity - the SAVED and the LOST. The great provision of God’s salvation is offered freely to all NOW, for only in time can a person be saved for Eternity!
Who can tell the fears, the thoughts, the dread, Which filled the minds of many as they fled; When bells, alarms and shouts rang through the air, Awaking people to immense despair.
The one thing uppermost in every mind, Would be a place of safety now to find; How tragic must have been the mournful call: “It won’t be possible to rescue all.”
How different is the blessed Gospel call, Which gives an ample warning to us all; Not only telling of the woe at hand, But showing how to teach the heavenly land.
Though sinful, and deserving to be lost, We learn how God Himself at greatest cost, Spared no His Son when hanging on the tree, That we might have salvation full and free.
His invitation still rings loud and clear, “Whosoever will” may now draw near; There’s room enough for all who will but come, And rest their faith on God’s own blessed Son.