Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

A Shark Story

SWISH-SH, swish-sh.

The swimmer started and turned. About a length behind him he saw a V-shaped ripple upon the surface of the blue waters, and beneath them a grey-brown object. The paralysis of fear seized him, and his cry of distress died in his throat! It was the shark.

What a fool he was to plunge into danger like that, and in spite of warning.

That shark had become notorious in Kingstown, St. Vincent, the bay of which town was its haunt, and many were the victims that had fallen to its rapacity.

The Governor of the island had forbidden bathing in the waters which it frequented, and had offered a large reward for its destruction. Knowing all about the shark, and in spite of his father’s commands to the contrary, and his brother’s entreaties that morning, this English youth had vowed that he would defy the monster and swim past its haunt. Now the folly of his daring confronted him, and certain death seemed to stare him in the face.

He was a strong swimmer however, and recovering from the first shock of fear he struck out for the shore but it was an unequal struggle, and every moment the dreaded shark gained upon the fast-tiring swimmer.

It is the old story. Retribution follows disobedience; sin puts those who commit it into the power of the foe. Had he but listened to those who were wiser than himself he would never have got into such terrible danger. In the beginning Adam disobeyed God, in spite of the warning of God, and he fell; he went astray and suffered terribly thereby. And we have all followed in the ways of disobedience and sin, for God’s Word says, “All we like sheep have gone astray.” So that everyone of us who have not yet been saved are in terrible danger. There is a foe who seeks to destroy the souls of the young as well as the old. “He goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” And if there were not a Saviour provided by God for us our case would be hopelessly terrible.

The frantic struggles of the swimmer, and the pointed nose of the shark protruding from the water immediately behind him were seen from the shore, and it was evident to all that he could not save himself. But amongst those who saw his danger was one of his father’s slaves, a negro named Mungo; he was devoted to his master and loved his master’s son, and, without a thought of his own safety, he threw himself into the sea and struck out to the rescue. He reached the lad just as the shark had opened his mouth to destroy him, and, seizing him round the waist, literally snatched him out of the jaws of death. The lad’s life was saved, but he was terribly injured, for the shark had with that one snap severed his arm from his body.

Look out, young reader. Sin will leave its marks upon you. There are many who have been saved by the sovereign grace of God, but they will carry the scars of sin to the grave. The longer you stay away from God your danger increases; but not only so — the wounds of sin are multiplied, and the wounds of sin are terrible.

But how glorious is the news that comes to us from God. He proclaims the Name of His Son Jesus as the Saviour for all. Our sins had made us the lawful prey of the mighty destroyer; but Jesus came to snatch us from the jaws of death, and to put us for ever beyond the reach of the danger that threatened us. If you do but feel your need of His saving power He will save you, and that right speedily. He is able to do so, do not doubt Him.

Mungo made for the shore with the wounded lad, and to the joy of the spectators landed him safely there. But he suffered for his loving courage. The shark returned to the attack, and before he could struggle to the shore himself he had lost a leg. But he — brave fellow that he was — thought this a small matter in the joy that he had in having saved his master’s son. You will not be surprised when I tell you that Jesus had to make a great sacrifice in order to save sinners. The story is very familiar to you, and may have lost its charm; but I tell you there is no story so wondrously thrilling as the story of the love of Jesus. He sacrificed Himself. He gave Himself to death and judgment in order to destroy our foe and save us for ever.

“O, sinner, Jesus died for thee.” Don’t despise Him. For the sake of your soul trust Him, and none shall snatch you from His hand.

Mungo recovered eventually from his first encounter with the shark, and was able to stump about on a wooden leg. He determined to have another encounter with the shark, and destroy him if possible. Arming himself with a huge knife he rowed out in a boat, and drawing the shark from his hiding place by a tempting bait he attacked him with his knife, and eventually returned to the shore in triumph, dragging his dead foe at the tail of his boat. He received his liberty and a pension from the Government for his bravery.

Well, that is the end of the story of Mungo’s victory. But we shall never come to the end of the story of Jesus’ victory over death and Satan. Those whom He has saved will celebrate that victory in heaven for ever. They will never cease to praise Him there. May you be amongst that happy company.