24-year-old Nick Ward was one of the survivors.  He was one of 6 crew members aboard the 30-foot yacht named Grimalkin.  In the storm, the Grimalkin had been dismasted and the cockpit was a mangled mess.  In utter desperation, Ward sent out a Mayday message on the VHF radio.

“Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.”
-- Psalm 69:1-2

Hours later, a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter arrives on the scene.  Observe Ward’s account of his rescue:

“The navy-grey helicopter circled us.  The noise was extraordinary.  I could see the pilot clearly, and the winchman standing at the open door.  Within moments the crewman – Peter Harrison – was descending on a cable towards the cockpit, but with Grimalkin still rising and falling some 20 or 30 feet, it became evident that his descent was going to be hindered.  His target – his landing area – was tiny.  I panicked again.  What if he had to abort his landing?  But this young man required no help from me.  He was purposeful, strong and deliberate in his movements.  His black boots hit the deck with some force.  The light reflected off his visor so that I couldn’t see his eyes.  This guy with all his gear had a huge physical presence and commanded instant respect – the very opposite of me: filthy, bloodied, smelly and unkempt.”

“Before I knew it, his strop was looped round me and under my arms.  The strop tightened round my chest … as I was lifted off the deck.  About 50 feet up, looking straight down, I saw our abandoned boat and how ravaged she was.  Her deck was strewn with the wreckage of the felled mast, boom and sails.  The open side door of the Sea King helicopter appeared in front of me and I was pulled into safety.” (From Left for Dead, 2007, pages 195-198) *

Ward’s predicament pictures our own condition because of our sins: we are lost, powerless, and unable to save ourselves.  Unless we are rescued, we will perish (Romans 6:23).

But God loves us so much that He sent His One and Only Son to rescue us (John 3:16).  Although we were “filthy, smelly, and unkempt” due to our sins, the sinless Son of God came to save us.  This, the greatest search and rescue mission ever, cost Jesus His life so that we might live (1 Thessalonians 5:10).

God will save those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6 NIV).

“In my distress I called to the LORD;
I cried to my God for help…
He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.”
-- Psalm 18:6,16

Won’t YOU accept the Lord’s offer of salvation and eternal life by calling upon Him through your trusting obedience?