Salvation Saver Truth #4

Mindful that with every passing moment, someone is being tempest tossed on this sea of life and even more mindful and conscious that such a poor sailor, whether near or far, is trying his or her best to get to a harbour, we come to this time of receiving.

Here is our fourth Salvation Saver truth. Trying now to make the harbour.

Note that this truth presents us with five facts, some obvious and some implied, but all true nonetheless. These facts bring to the forefront of our minds what is relevant and our business of the day, as Salvation Savers or Saving Lights for Jesus.

Fact #1 – There is a harbour.

What is a harbour? Simply put to you, a harbour is a place, known or unknown which people in distress look for. You see, the common knowledge of every sailor, captain of a vessel or not, is the understanding that there’s a harbour somewhere. This is what I mean. When I lived on the small island of Grenada, before there were any upgraded international airports, it was not unusual for pilots in very small, light aircrafts to find themselves lost in the dead of night. Villagers would hear the plane circling around, trying to find a landing strip, and come out in their vehicles, with lights on full beam, so that the pilot in distress could see and land safely. I tell you truly, many a life has been saved by the brightly working lights of vigilant villagers. They certainly were not feeble lamps! Many a sailor in distress knows that there is a harbour someplace.

Fact #2 – The tempest tossed is making effort.

Note that the one in distress is not just there as one who has given up on life. The tempest tossed one is clinging to the hope of a harbour being available and is making every effort to get there. Trying to get to harbour only makes sense because there is indeed a harbour. My mind is turned to Lot and his family and in their plight with sure destruction before them on this devastatingly rough sea of life, Lot knows of a harbour called Zoar. Though very small, I mean insignificantly small, it is adequate enough to secure his salvation and that of his family. Yes, we know the sad truth of his wife, who did not make the required effort, but Lot and his children tried to make the harbour called Zoar and made it safely. I tell you sincerely, there is many a sailor who is trying at this moment to make the harbour, for they have not given up on being saved.

Fact # 3 – There is no time like the now time.

Let me repeat the line of the stanza for our fourth Salvation Saver truth. Trying now to make the harbour. Note the word, now. Peer deeply upon it and you will also be shown the not too obvious. First, the obvious. The poor tempest tossed sailor is in his or her difficulty now. It is actually taking place in the moment. This is not a scenario, a flashback or some thought given to what one will do, if ever one is caught in such a life-threating situation. Absolutely Not! This is in the now, the present. You accept that, now will you also see the now as also of one’s spiritual energies? This is what I mean. Just as the sailor who is making the effort, working to get to harbour, now, and not giving up, so too is our Saviour. Our Saviour, whose work is to save lives, is also working now and never ever gives up on any life that is calling out to Him and looking to Him. The now time for the sailor who needs a Saviour, is the now time for the Saviour who helps the sinner.

Fact # 4 – The seeker is seeking a harbour

Listen! The person in distress is seeking life, not death; help not hindrance; relief not more distresses. Why do we need to be told this? Why is this important when it is so obvious? This is necessary for many reasons, but one has been advanced. It emanates from an old proverb which goes to this effect. ‘A drowning man will clutch at a straw.’ I don’t know what it means to you, but a straw is never a harbour in Jesus. As Salvation Savers for Jesus, we must always believe that regardless of the severity of the situation, faith keeps us firm in our resolve that our Lord is never our straw but ever our Stone or Rock. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18: 2. If faith allows us to know this, we will be the solid, strong harbours to the one who is clutching.

Fact # 5 – To make the harbour.

Listen one more time with your spirit-amplified hearing, seeing and feeling. Trying now to make the harbour. There is a niggling truth of excitement that is growing more and more about the phrase, to make. As simplistic as this may sound to the worldly ear, the fact is that the tempest tossed sailor is trying to make it to the harbour. The one in trouble wants to make the harbour. The one in distress desires to make the harbour. “To make it”, is all I keep hearing and in response I am also hearing, “Will make it”. The desire of the one in urgent need is to make the harbour and how do we know that he or she will make it? This is what is recorded for us in Psalm 107: 28 - 30. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.