At Anstruther in Fife, a new lifeboat station is being built with a new slipway to facilitate launching. Seven lifeboats have been stationed there since 1865, the latest being the Kingdom of Fife from 1991 to 2024. It was a Mersey class boat, but reaching the end of its operational life, it has been replaced by a Shannon class vessel, the beautiful, 13-47 Robert and Catherine Steen which arrived just over a year ago. It is superior in many ways, upgraded throughout and with a top speed of 25 knots.
However, it is too big to fit inside the existing boathouse. So, at a cost of around £100,000, this new facility will be an all-round improvement for the benefit of the volunteer crew and for accommodating and launching the lifeboat to respond to emergency calls for help at sea.
“Saving lives at sea” has become a familiar slogan for the RNLI, and indeed that is its mission. Since its foundation in 1824 its crews have saved over 140,000 lives, some in the most difficult and dangerous conditions. Probably very few of us have had to call on them, but those who have, and have been rescued, are overwhelmingly grateful.
Most of us will not need to be saved from the perils of the sea, and if we do get into danger, we are reassured that help is available. But all of us do need saving from the danger that belongs to our sin and its consequences. The good news of the Gospel is that help and rescue is at hand.
As with the lifeboat service, salvation is free to us although costly to the One who provided it. Money can buy a lifeboat and its gear but it could never buy salvation. The cost of this was “the precious blood of Christ”.
Lifeboatmen are willing to risk their lives to save others from damage and death at sea. Jesus was willing to give His life to save us from sin and eternal death in hell.
To be rescued at sea the call is Mayday, Mayday, or a call for help is made in some other way. Sadly, by the time the boat is launched and arrives at the casualty it can be too late. Jesus Christ will save you immediately when you call upon Him. The Bible says, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10.13).
He is able and willing to save all and any who admit their sin and danger and put their trust in Him, in the same way that a person who is in danger puts their whole trust in their rescuer.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross to save us and now lives in heaven to hear us when we call upon Him for that salvation which we need. I did that years ago. Have you?
Written by a Guest Blogger
All photos courtesy of Unsplash
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