THE LOST SEA

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

     Located just off Interstate 75 southwest of Knoxville, Tennessee, is a small hamlet called Sweetwater. There is a cavern there called the Lost Sea which contains a large underground lake  - a geological wonder.  The lake is 140 feet below the surface and has an abundance of rainbow trout that have inhabited that lake for centuries. The fish have lost their pigmentation and are white in color. They also have scales that have grown over the eyes of the fish rendering them blind. This obviously has occurred owing to the lack of light in the environment of the lake.

     I consider this to be an excellent illustration of those who remain blind to the Gospel after having suffered the darkness to dominate their lives too long. Not able to see the truth for the smothering darkness of sin, they no longer can see the truth for the scales that have grown over their consciences. But there is hope in Christ to call us from darkness to gleaming light. He alone can make the blind to see. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Peter 4:4

     

Christ Only Savior

   A man in the interior of China, after attending a Christian mission for a while and getting no light, came to the missionary one morning in a happy mood saying, “I dreamed last night; and now I understand.

   I seemed to have fallen into a deep pit where I lay helpless and despairing. A priest of Confucius leaned over the edge and said, ‘Let me give you some advice, my friend; if you get out of your trouble, never get in again.’ A priest of Buddha came and stretched his arm over the edge, saying, ‘If you can manage to climb up so I can reach you, I will help you out.’ Then Christ came. And he climbed down into the pit and carried me out of it.”

—   Rev.David James Burrell, D.D. 

 PASTORAL PRAYER: (found scribbled in one of my father's old books - J. Ogles)

Almighty God, our desire is that we may put our trust in thee, then shall our life be safe, and our hope shall be as a light that cannot be blown out.

Hear us when we cry for thy presence throughout our whole life.

Increase in us the aversion which holiness feels for sin, increase in us all sacred thirst and hunger, that our desire may be after God in great

vehemence and expectation, and satisfy us early with thy lovingkindness and plentifully bless us with thy Holy Spirit.

We commend one another to thy gentle care. Leave none without a

blessing. Let the old man renew his youth, and on this opening summer day recall the spring of his gladdest life. Speak to the busy man, lest he should forget eternity in consequence of his devotion to dying time — on the young let the dew of thy blessing and the light of thy sanctification rest all the days of their lives. Heal the broken-hearted, cleanse those who are tormented with devils, curb the unholy passion, and finally destroy it.

Hear the prayers that cannot be spoken, that are too sacred for words, that go up to Heaven in pleading, yearning sighs, and answer such according to the tenderness of thine own grace.

Re-ordain every minister of the gospel, consecrate him afresh to his

holy work, bind him with sevenfold cords to the one altar that is alone worth serving. Upon all the churches of the redeemed, by whatsoever names known among men, let grace, mercy and peace constantly abide.

Bring in the day when we shall see that all truth ripens into love, and that in so far as we fall short of love we fall short of truth.

The Lord give us the blessing we most need; the light appropriate to

the day, the music that will bring all our circumstances into happy consonance with his own purposes. Send messages from the sanctuary to the sick chambers, to the lonely room, to the dark prison, to the troubled sea, to our wanderers in foreign lands, to those further wanderers, who follow the devil’s lure. And all in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we ask. Amen.