There were two men in a boat above Niagara Falls. They lost control of the boat. It capsized, and the two men were now plunged into the water, being swept irresistibly towards the vast, raging Falls.
Some others on the riverbank saw the danger of the two men, and threw a rope to them. The first man clasped hold of the rope. As a result, he was saved; the rope gave him a connection with the people on the land, who were able to pull him to safety.
But the second man, instead of clasping the rope, saw a log floating past him. He threw his arms around the log. It stopped him from drowning immediately, but it did nothing to halt his rush towards the Falls. Clinging to the log, he had no connection with the land.
As a result, he was swept away and lost.
Two men. One danger. One remedy. Two destinies.
How can we be delivered from the raging waters of our sin and guilt before God, which would sweep us away to judgment? Most people think the way to salvation is by doing good deeds.
But trying to be saved by our own good deeds is like the man clinging to the log. Our good deeds give us no connection with Jesus Christ, the only Source of salvation. Cling to our deeds as tightly as we will, we shall be swept away to judgment.
The Bible says it is faith that connects us with Christ. Faith is like the rope that saved the man from the Niagara Falls. By trusting in Christ and what He has done for sinners, we are pulled out of danger, and find ourselves safe on the dry land of God's mercy.
The Son of God died for sinners and rose from the dead, that He might be the source of forgiveness and new life. "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and He was buried, and He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Make sure you are connected with Him by faith. If you trust in your own good deeds, you will be lost; they have no power to deliver you from death, or to put you right with God. Only Christ can do this for us; and He is ours by faith.
"The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:35-36).