There was once a foolish little boat that did not dare give itself up to the river. The river called it coaxingly and promised to take good care of it, but the boat would not venture from the shore.
At last the boat dared to move half-way out from the shore. “But,” said the river, “I can’t carry you that way. You must give yourself up to me entirely.”
At length the boat became more bold, and ventured to trust itself to the river, but insisted on having a rope, which held it fast to a tree on the bank. Of course that was no better than before. The boat turned and swung in the eddies of the river, but it got not an inch further toward the ocean.
At length, as the river urged it, and promised safety, the boat ventured to let go of the rope; but at the same time, to make himself perfectly safe, the boat let down a great anchor to the bottom of the river. And then, though the boat seemed to be giving itself up entirely to the current, and though it swayed back and forth a little more, it got no farther, on the whole, than it was at the start.
But finally, after days of pleading, the boat ventured to let go of the anchor, and trust itself entirely to the river, and it was carried safely on, past hundreds of beautiful scenes, till at last it came to the great ocean that it was longing to see.
This boat, children, was not more foolish than many a boy and girl who expects Christ to carry him to the great ocean of happiness and peace, and yet who will not give up to Christ. There are lots of boys and girls—yes, and big men and women, too—who are resting on the banks, half on, half off, and wondering why they do not get further down the stream. And there are others who are tied to some worldly business, or anchored to some selfish pursuit, and not even the strong current of Christ’s love can tear them loose.
The only way, children, is to yield yourselves up entirely to Christ, being sure that you will be safer in that way than in any other, and that he will carry you without harm into the great ocean of all joy.