Standing on the deck of a ship

Represents the human life from start to finish

Indoor clothes and life jacket

You are unprepared for what you are experiencing and are likely to experience.
Indoor Clothes mean you are wet and cold

Life jacket - your means of survival in the water, totally inadequate. If you are not wearing a survival suit you will die within 15 minutes of entering the water of hypothermia.

The ship is firmly on the rocks

You are suffering from a terminal illness. It is called "Life".
It will end in a physical death and perhaps a spiritual death.

Waves battering the ship

When the waves overwhelm the ship (your life) you die.

You are alone on the ship

Your life and it's inevitable end is something you face alone.

The Helicopter

This is not representing Jesus dying for mankind to free us from our sins.
This represents the Gospel message of the above being proclaimed.

The Man

Initially this is the Christian witnessing of the Way of Salvation. A further message is developed.

Rescue harness

There is a purpose in the Christian's witness...that the hearer may be saved.

Who is this Man ?

This is the Holy Spirit's work in the heart of  individuals hearing the Gospel, it is often not known as such at the time.

Cannot see the Man's face

As the man gets closer, the Holy Spirit, makes Jesus closer to you as you allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.

His name is called "Smith"

Smith is known as a very common name and a name adopted by people wishing to hide their identity.

The Christian witness can be anyone, no special talents needed, just to be used by God.

Beckons

Jesus calls/invites us to be saved.

Why does he not speak ?

Very few Christians would claim to have heard God actually speak to them.
But they would say that God speaks to them.
God also speaks to the person without Him.

Roar of Waves

The demands and attractions of the World.

Do you understand ?

A person needs to understand the Gospel of salvation, this may or may not occur on hearing this Gospel for the first time.

Tilting Deck

The ship moving towards it's end. I have to say I could not sit down and watch the film "Titanic"

Release your hand

Leave go of your existing means of security. This might be Good Job and Money, Academic Success, Politics etc.

Held in the harness

The way is provided by God

Do you trust the person ?

People waiting to be rescued would trust that the helicopter's crew would know what they were doing and could be trusted. A step of faith is trusting that God knows what He is doing

What choice do you have ?

This is part of the Gospel message:

Joh:14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

A brightly lit room

The new Christian's life, light as opposed to the dark of night on the wave striken ship.
You are actually in the canteen of the airbase where the helicopter has landed.
You are not exactly sure where you are, but you are safe.

2Co:5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The Clothes you are wearing

They are not the same clothes as you were wearing on the ship, they are new clothes

2Co:5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The shirt and trousers

Smith provided your clothes. We have clothes of righteousness through Jesus

Isa:1:18: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

The television reporter and the crowd

As a new Christian there will be people around you that are not sure what has happened to you. They say they want to know, but do they see things from God's perspective...I think not

The sea was the worst I have seen

The towering waves, the rocks waiting to destroy the ship and crew...this represents Hell. This is the worst God "has seen" and he does not want us to be there.

Yes there was only one man

If you were the only person in the World, Jesus would have died to save you, if that was neccessary, and it was. Do Christians measure how much effort they give to witnessing according to how many might be saved ?

Lu:15:4: What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5: And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6: And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7: I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Jesus left the ninety nine and searched for the one lost sheep.

What are you saying ?

That the helicopter crew should not have risked their lives for one man
As Christians we are seldom risking our lives (?)
But someone could likely decry our efforts to proclaim the Gospel.

Repeated Attempts

God through the Holy Spirit makes repeated attempts to reveal the Gopel to us.

The man refused to leave

There is a choice to accept God's offer of salvation or refuse it. We have the free-will.

The ship has completely broken up

This is inevitable, the ship (our lives) will end.
We should wish to know that we are safe with Jesus when that happens.

Tragic Scene

The tragic part was that the man was still on the ship, and though not said, is feared lost ie drowned.
Ships come to grief many times around our coasts.
Someone moving into a new area asked one of the local people already living there.
"Do people often die around here ?"
The reply he received, "Just once."
It has not happened to you....Yet.

R.N.A.S. Culdrose

Is known as one of the airbases that Rescue Helicopters operate from in the U.K.
Do you know the "bases" ie churches from which "Rescue Helicopters" operate in your country ?
Do you know the "Churches" and by that I mean Christian fellowships where you can get help both to become a Christian and to live the Christian life ?
Are you part of such an evangelistic church ?

Would you like more information about
the Christian Life ?

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
- "Steps to Peace with God" Click Here

The Good News of Jesus Christ  Click Here

Would you like to see some more
Gospel Presentations ?

Visit the OneWayCorp site Click Here
 

Author: Michael Fowler  July 2000
Version 4  March 2005