In the picture above you see a ferry boat on the Buckingham canal in the province of Andhra Pradesh in southeastern India. It is an important canal, beginning at the Krishna river near the city of Vijayawada, and flowing 250 miles to the bay of Bengal near Madras. It was built about 130 years ago, and is still used both for irrigation and for drinking water by many towns and villages along its course. The British engineer who designed it was Sir Arthur Cotton. He was a good engineer who also loved the gospel of the grace of God, and encouraged many foreign missionaries to come to India to tell the story of God’s love.
Since the canal is about 90 feet wide in most places and up to 18 feet deep, it is necessary to have ferry boats to cross it at various places. The ferry pictured above is at the village of Vaddeswaram, and is used constantly by people going to their work in the fields in the morning, and then returning home at the end of the day. It is a cleverly-designed ferry, for it does not require any work, by man or otherwise, to take it across the canal. It is simply attached by a strong cable to a large stake in the middle of the canal. By altering how the cable is attached to the ferry boat, the slow current of the canal is made to do the work.
The carrying capacity of the ferry boat Isaiah 15 persons, and there is a sign clearly indicating this both on the boat and on both banks of the canal. However, it is not uncommon for up to 40 people to use the ferry boat at one time.
On September 1, 1983 a large number of villagers crowded at the ferry to cross the canal. About 55 people pushed their way onto the ferry and asked to be taken across. Because of the danger of carrying so many people, the ferryman refused and warned them that to carry such a load would be taking too great a risk. But none would get off. They reminded him that the normal capacity of the boat had often been exceeded before, and nothing had happened. Again the ferryman refused, and to emphasize his strong disapproval he got off the boat and sat down on the bank. The crowd became very impatient and began to curse him. Finally, he reluctantly came back to the ferryboat when he saw that nothing would make them believe him.
How foolish of people to risk their lives just to try to save a few minutes of their time! Yet how many there are in the world today who are taking a far more serious risk, not only with their lives, but with their never-dying souls. God has warned us faithfully in His Word, the Bible, of coming judgment. In Acts 17:3131Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31) we read, “He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained.” Yet how many there are who are going on, ignoring the warnings God has given and convincing themselves that everything will be all right.
The boat began its slow, drifting ride across the canal, moving with difficulty because of the heavy load. About halfway across, the cable suddenly broke. The people were not balanced evenly on the boat, and it began to tilt sharply to one side. The people panicked and it overbalanced completely and turned over, spilling everyone into the water. The few who would have been able to swim to shore were caught hold of in panic by others who could not swim. Within 30 minutes 50 of the 55 people on the boat were drowned, most of them less than 50 feet from shore. Only five persons and the ferryman were able to escape.
What a tragedy, you may well say! Yet just as there was a way to avoid it, so God in His love and mercy has provided a way of escape from coming judgment. We all deserve God’s judgment because of our sins, but God loved us so much that He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die for us and to shed His blood in order to wash away our sins. “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” Hebrews 9:2828So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28). “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7). Have you accepted the way that God has made to wash away your sins so that you will not fall under the coming judgment?
The government conducted a thorough inquiry into the whole matter and found no negligence on the part of the ferryman. Their final conclusion was that all 50 persons died because they ignored the written warning and the pleading of the ferryman. It is the same with the free salvation which God is offering to you. If you ignore the warnings God has given us in the Bible and refuse His offer of pardon for your sins, then you will surely go into a lost eternity forever. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:1515And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15). Yet God has made every possible provision so that you may not go there. Once again, the Bible says, “To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 3:1515While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (Hebrews 3:15). Accept Christ as your Saviour and know that you are safe from coming judgment.
ML-11/18/1984