Saved by the Rock

"Every one who is coming unto me, and is hearing my words, and is doing them, I will shew you to whom he is like; he is like to a man building a house, who did dig, and deepen, and laid a foundation upon the rock, and a flood having come, the stream broke forth on that house, and was not able to shake it, for it had been founded upon the rock." Luke 6:47-48 (YLT)

The weather in Newfoundland is hard to predict, especially in the winter.

In 1873, Solomon was a Christian sailor, part of the crew of 60 people. Everything went well at first, until all of a sudden, a gale of wind occurred and the sea became quite rough. The skipper found shelter in loose ice for shelter.

A few hours later someone cried: "Rock! Rock! On the Lee Bow!"

The skipper exclaimed, "We're lost!"

There was no way he could stop his ship. They were heading right to the rock. Some sailors jumped from the ship. They were smashed!

When the boat hit the rock, Solomon rolled over and over and ended up on the rock. He was truly surprised and held strongly on the kelp. However, the sea came in and tried to take him off the rock.

Although he was quite tired, he tried to climb higher on the rock. The next time the sea came in, it didn't even touch his toes. Hallelujah!

Here he was now, all alone on the rock, drenched with icy seawater, bruised and bleeding, with no food. He couldn't see anything, but the rock. The only noise was the howling of the wind.

He realized all of a sudden, that His Heavenly Father had saved him big time! He started to praise God. After that, he felt a peace like he never felt before. God was with him!

When the night was over, Solomon noticed that the wind had tempered quite a bit. He was still quite hungry and he knew he should do something. All he could see were miles of ice and the distant shore.

He decided to do something the next day. However, he was never in despair. He felt the presence of his Heavenly Father at all times. He started to sing hymns from the rock!

The next morning the weather was way calmer than before. That was a good sign! He saw a large piece of ice nearby. Praying for confirmation, he stepped on that sheet of ice and it held him. He kept on hobbling along.

All of a sudden, he noticed 4 men heading to him on the ice. They gave him some bread, which gave him some strength.

Solomon wondered how they had found him.

"It's quite simple. Our captain used his spyglass and noticed something moving on the rock. At first, he thought it was a seal, but then he discovered it was a man. He decided to save than man! He set fire to a tar barrel, to let you know that they had seen him. The following morning, he sent 40 sailors to rescue you."

Solomon was on the rock for 38 hours. He was saved by the rock! The whole time His Heavenly Father guided Him. He was at peace at all times, even though his calamities.

This is a true story and it can be your story as well. Find that rock that will save you for eternity. There is but one rock that can do that.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." Psalm 46:1-3 (NIV)

Will you come to Him?

Happy New Year! What will be your New Year's resolution?

Rob Chaffart