Are You Lost Enough to Be Found?

It was beautiful weather, great for sailing in the north, near Alaska. A Dutchman, Jonathan's solo voyage on the yacht with Percy, his cat, had looked encouraging.

Then the weather changed suddenly. A huge wave caught them during the gale, capsizing the boat and breaking all the rigging and the rudder.  Even after the boat righted itself, it was dead in the water.

But Jonathan could contact the Coast Guard, and they could get through to a ship nearby.  When the ship drew near, it was up to the sailor, with yowling Percy tucked in his jacket, to jump from his wrecked yacht onto the ship and to safety.

No way to help himself, the sailor had only one option. Jump.

When I read the story, I realised how relevant it is to our spiritual lives.  We shipwreck our lives or find ourselves the victim of unforeseen circumstances. Neither able to save ourselves nor those who depend on us, we have a choice to make.  We can call out for help, then accept that help when it arrives, or do nothing and perish.

Many of us, though, in the midst of daily life, do not recognise just how 'shipwrecked' we are.  "I'll manage somehow"  becomes the motto that can lead to unintentional doom. For many, there is avoidance or addiction added to the mix.  It may not be the intention, but the result is the same. Disaster.

These folk are not 'lost enough' to see their peril, let alone accept rescue when help comes. 

Do you recognise your preoccupation with your own pain and loss or failure and difficulties for what they are? These are what the Bible calls sin.  Do you see your need for rescue? That rescue is from our own sin, even our reaction to the sins and wrongs of others.  Or are you going to tough it out and risk everything because you think you don't really need help?

The first step to salvation is recognising the need for it.

Christ has revealed our need, then provided the means through His sacrifice for us.  He sends that message.  If we seek it.

What we do with it is our response.  If we see our own moral bankruptcy, we reach out!  We call for help!  Yell for a way out, "Can Christ save even me?"

Yes, He can!  He will!

Reach out when Jesus reveals your need, respond, and find rescue.  Be rescued from the worst of what life has brought. Be rescued from yourself... (Ephesians 2:1-6)

Story origins found at the 30/09/25 devotional at https://www.odbm.org/  Photo by Joel Bengs on Unsplash