The miracles of Jesus - Classical Christian Literature by Athleo.net

54 THE STILLING OF THE TEMPEST
old, sad story that the angel of the storm was fain
to return.
II.
" Lord, save us or we pei-isli ! " There is no other
alternative. Such when faith breaks down is the hard
dogmatism of despair. We see no further than that
black fact of death. God must either do what we
want or nothing avails.
But this is a terrible version of things to come from
the disciples of Jesus. For on this theory all acts of
saving are mere postponements. A granted prayer
only puts off the evil day a little further. " If it be
not now, it is to come." All gifts, providences, healings,
are thus robbed of what is felt to be best in them,
their promissory character, their prophetic significance.
They are mere reprieves, not earnests of salvation, for
we must all die some day. The world's great need is
faith and hope. And all people who have lived with
Christ should help the world to a faith.
We Christian
folk may say," Lord, save," but never " Lord, save or we
perish ! " We must take a larger view of divine
possibilities. " Perish " should have no place in
Christian vocabulary.
" For God so loved the world ,:
that no one should perish but have everlasting life.
The sea and the storm are perpetual accompaniments
of our earthly life, and our sign in the storm is
the sleeping Christ. The inactivity of God is the
favourite text of the world. " He does nothing " is
the complaint, He lets the boat fill with waves. Men
die in the flower of life. Hearts are broken, and He