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Themes Limited Time THE DANGER OF BEING CLOSE It began as a fishing trip. It was a great fishing trip. The tuna were biting and everyone caught his share. The 28-foot boat had taken the men 40 miles off the New Jersey Coast. Now it was time to head home. Eight men began the trip. Only seven made it home. "We had a great time. A great trip," said one of the men. Then everything happened. Only 22 miles from land, a sudden storm hit the boat. The quiet and calm sea suddenly churned. Waves of 20 feet began tossing the boat around like a cork in a bathtub. The Lyl Cyn, the 28-foot boat, suddenly was in trouble. The Captain, realizing the danger, radioed their position to the Coast Guard. He tried to keep the boat afloat and in the right direction. About an hour later, a coast guard helicopter spotted them and dropped a large raft to them. They were able to secure the raft in case they needed it. It was not long before they needed it. A huge wave broke right over the ship. Water began pouring into the boat. It was only a matter of minutes before the boat went down. The eight men all stayed together and made it to the raft. It was 2 and 1/2 hours later before the Coast Guard Cutter could reach them. By then winds were 60 to 70 miles per hour and waves were more than 20 feet high. Rescue would be dangerous. As the Coast Guard cutter came near, it dropped a rope ladder over its side. As the raft neared, the men tried to time their jumps for the rope with the waves. Each man had one chance. If he missed, the waves would quickly carry him away. Each man made it to the ladder. One man was so weak that another man helped him onto the ladder. Rescue was there. A safe place in the storm was right in front of him. But he couldn't hold onto the ladder. The men looked in vain for him. He couldn't be found. So close to safety yet lost at sea. The rope ladder was in his hand but he was lost at sea. Abner was very close to safety but he died as a fool. He died because he turned back and met joab. There is a great danger that you to might be very close to salvation and miss it. Paul, when preaching to some in rome, said "The Word is nigh (near) thee" (Romans 10:8). God could not bring salvation any closer. The Bible which you have tells of a savior who has spanned the great distance from Heaven to earth. He has gone to a cross and shed His blood. Salvation is available. Will you be so close, but lost? "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation" (Hebrews 2:3).
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Bryon Meyers
