Grasping Hope

[346 words] Charles Spurgeon, a well-known denominational preacher of 19th century, related in one of his sermons the story of a sailor who fell overboard amid a great storm and the thrilling rescue that followed. As soon as the cry, “Man overboard!” was sounded the crew flew into action determined to save their shipmate from drowning. The poor sailor was quickly found, and a rope was tossed to him. That rope was that sailor’s lifeline, and he knew it. When the men finally got the man onto the ship after his harrowing experience, he was unable to loosen his grip on that rope. It was hours before he could relax his grip as the strands of rope became embedded in the flesh of his hands. Jesus is our lifeline, rescuing us from churning ocean of sin. Wave after wave threatens to pull us down into the dark depths with no…