| The Joy of Service |
Chapter 10 |
Page 7 |
At night, on ships at sea, when the bell strikes the hours, the watch in the lookout calls, “All’s well.” There may be terror on the sea, a storm raging, and the waves breaking over the decks. The passengers may be in dread, many of them sick, others trembling and afraid. There may be sore distress on board. Yet hour after hour, as the night passes and the bells ring, the cheerful words ring down from the little nest on the mast where the lookout keeps watch, “Ten o’clock, and all’s well.” In truth, all is well in spite of the storm, the waves, the sickness, and the terror. The great ship is riding in safety through the tempest, mastering wind and wave, bearing its precious cargo of life steadily toward the haven. “Twelve o’clock and all’s well!” So the hours move, and at length morning comes, the sun shines forth, the waves sob themselves into a calm, and there is joy once more on board.
So it is that the voice of Christian hope ever sings its song of cheer in men’s ears in the midst of earth’s storms. “All’s well!” In the world at large, amid all human sin and failure, God’s plan of love goes on without interruption. Good will come at last out of all that seems evil. The morning will break, the sun will shine out, and the great ship will be found beyond the storm, sailing on, triumphant over every danger.
“God’s in His heaven;
All’s well with the world.”
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