Our sense organs 45

Too simple? People often object that this is far
too simple. Surely salvation cannot be such a simple
matter! But the mere fact that our rescue is so
simple for us, demonstrates that God Himself is
working. It was however very costly for Him. God
said through the prophet Isaiah: ”you have burdened
me with your sins” (Is 43:24). In comparison,
the creation of the universe was a simple
task, as we read in Psalm 8:3: “When I consider
your heavens, the work of your fingers.” We do
not have to swim three times around the floundering
ship in icy waters to qualify for admission
into the ark of salvation.
Not applicable: One aspect of these two parables
does not apply to today’s situation: At some point
everybody on either ship knew that it was doomed,
and they tried to leave the ship in panic. If ever in
our lives we should be in a similar position, we
would know exactly where we were – whether on
the sinking ship or already in a lifeboat. But, in contrast,
many people today are in one of two dreadful,
tragic situations (T1 and T2 below):
T1: Modern man in general does not believe that
he is sailing on a doomed ship. People like the
music on board and are feasting at the buffet.
They are not conscious of any danger and are not
interested in a lifeboat.
– In the first place there are those who believe in
God, but have never turned to Jesus, never
been truly converted. This includes many
members of mainline churches, and even pastors
and elders who have never yet experienced
a real breakthrough of faith. They are
ensnared in traditions and customs, and know
nothing of a living relationship with Jesus.
– Furthermore, there are people who actually
serve Jesus, but who have also never really
been converted. Recently somebody told me
that he wanted to serve Jesus by studying theology,
but he shied away from conversion,
from a personal relationship with Jesus.
After speaking on the subject, I have repeatedly
met such people who have recognised their plight
from the talk, and have then repented fully.
People who belong to this group and do not
respond to the call, will one day be judged by
Jesus with the words He prophesied in the Sermon
on the Mount: “Not everyone who says to
me, ’Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heav-
The main purpose of this book is to convince you,
dear reader, that you are in deadly danger, and to
point the way to the lifeboat standing by. The
process of transferring from the ship of death to
the ark of salvation is known in the Bible by a
special term, namely conversion! No rescue is
possible from a sinking ship without boarding a
lifeboat. This is also the case for eternal life, since
it cannot be obtained without repentance. Jesus
says in Luke 13:3: “unless you repent (change
your course, leave the doomed ship by turning to
Jesus), you too will all perish.”
T2: There is another fatal situation on the ship of
death: Some people say that they are already safe
in a lifeboat, although they have not yet made the
transfer. For them the danger is very great, because
they see no reason for changing. In this way they
might miss the lifeboat altogether and rush headlong
into destruction. Who are these people?
124
The Gustloff: The Wilhelm Gustloff – pride of the
”Strength-Through-Joy” fleet, seen from above, 1938
(Reproduced from Die ”Gustloff”-Katastrophe, by Heinz
Schön, Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart, p 88).