Earnestness

Earnestness for. A number of years ago a vessel was wrecked. The lifeboats were not enough to take all the passengers. A man who was swimming in the water swam up to one of the life-boats that was full and seized it with his hand.

They tried to prevent him, but the man was terribly in earnest about saving his life, and one of the men in the boat just drew a sword and cut off his hand. But the man didn’t give up; he reached out the other hand.

He was terribly in earnest. He wanted to save his life. But the man in the boat took the sword and cut off his other hand.

But the man did not give up. He swam up to the boat and seized it with his teeth. Some of them said, “Let us not cut his head off,” and they drew him in. That man was terribly in earnest.

His earnestness saved him. —Moody. SatvaTion, False Ways of. They are climbing up a steep precipice of ice, toiling hard and yet slipping backwards as fast as they climb. They are pouring water into a cask full of holes, laboring busily, and yet no nearer the end of their work than when they began.

They are rowing a boat against a rapid stream, plying the oar diligently, and yet in reality losing ground every minute. They are trying to build up a wall of loose sand, wearing themselves out with fatigue, and yet seeing their work roll down on them as fast as they throw it up. They are trying to pump dry a sinking ship. The water gains on them and they will soon be drowned.

Such is the experience, in every part of 144 SERMON ILLUSTRATIONS the world, of all who think to cleanse themselves from their sins. —Ryle. Satvation, First. A boy was bathing in a river, and getting out of his depth, was on the point of sinking, when he saw a wayfarer coming by, to whom he called out for help with all his might and main.

The man began to read the boy a lecture for his fool-hardiness; but the urchin cried out, “O save me now, sir! and read me the lecture afterwards.”