Webster gives us this definition of salvage.

1. The act of saving a ship or its cargo from perils of the seas.
2. The act of saving anything from destruction or danger.

So to save something that was going to be lost, is to salvage it. I have heard many times of ships that salvaged part of their cargo by throwing some cargo overboard. There are also salvage yards where scrap metal is brought to be recycled, as to not be a complete loss. Now see if you can picture this in your mind. The whole world of people since mankind began upon the earth until the last one, is born about to be lost. Great destruction is coming, but there is one who will salvage some of them so they will not all be lost. Is not that a very noble someone?

The condition for being one of the ones who is salvaged is left up to the individual to choose to be salvaged, or not. Now suppose since you are one of those who has lived since mankind began on earth, what would you choose? If you had been warned of sure coming destruction, would you not seek the only way out? Or would you chance being destroyed? Maybe, you wouldn't believe there was going to be destruction in the first place, and so do nothing.

I once saw a man and his family come running out of their house one night. We were passing by and my dad and mom saw the house on fire. They stopped the car and daddy began blowing the horn and hollering for the people to get out of the burning house. As they came running out in their night clothes they had no time to remove any of their belongings from the house. They lost everything except the few clothes they were wearing. So they salvaged very little. At least they were not destroyed by the fire.

Salvage means to rescue from any peril or danger. We have been warned of great danger coming. The world was once destroyed by water and everyone lost their lives, but eight people in one family. Remember the story in the Bible of Noah, the preacher of righteousness? People had been upon the earth for about sixteen hundred years when this took place, so there must have been many people at that time. So just think about all the many people who did not believe the message Noah was preaching, and as a result all were drowned in the flood waters. We are told that there will never be another world wide flood, but that the earth is reserved, by the Almighty's plan, to be destroyed by fire one day.

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 2 Peter 3:7

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10

Looking  for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?   2 Peter 3:12

Before this coming destruction the souls of many people will be called out of this world to enter into eternity. Some of these souls will be directed to Paradise and myriads of others will directed to damnation and eternal doom. The difference in the directions is left up to the individual. Before that time comes they must prepare by being one of those who will be salvaged. That sounds simple enough don't you think? The problem arises however because people often fail to prepare and that day comes upon them unexpectedly. By the way, has your soul been salvaged yet? If not, why not? It is your eternal soul at stake? There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. You are at great eternal risk if you have not been rescued. You will perish, no question about it, if you are not ready at that unknown time.

I have watched crews with special underwater equipment on television going down into the depths of the oceans to retrieve gold, silver, treasures and other valuable artifacts and bring them up after being buried, sometimes, for hundreds or even thousands of years in the ocean waters. They salvaged some of that ship lost. It took time, planning, resources, and skill to be able to recover these articles, but once recovered, they were worth all it took to acquire them.

So are the souls of men. It took the Wisdom of God, it took the death of his only Son, it took the pain of a cross in order to salvage a soul, and to God the soul of man is that important.

There are untold treasures lying in the depths of the seas that will likely never be salvaged. They will be lost forever, without usefulness for anyone. It is disturbing when we think about the great loss, but still they are never recovered. No one knows the full extent and vast amount of these sunken treasures. So to put a price upon them is impossible.

So it is with the souls of men. Their souls are valuable, more valuable than anyone can comprehend. The soul has eternal value because man was made in the image of God and his life came from God. But like the sunken treasures of the seas that are lost, even more priceless, are the souls of those who would die without a knowledge of the Savior who loves them so much, he purchased salvation for them.

As those who sailed their ships attempted to preserve them and save them from the destruction at hand, so God sent forth his only Son to secure the salvation of every person, so they would not be lost.

No doubt many ship captains went to sea when they should not have, but were willing to take the risk in order to deliver their cargo. But their unwise decision cost them not only their cargo of valuable goods and treasures, but all their lives as well.

Have you ever noticed artificats that are recovered being cleansed and restored to usefulness? Certain chemicals help remove many years of corrosion that has covered them. This reminds me of the work of the Lord in cleansing all who repent of their sins, therefore making a new person out of them. We were all lost, but God, through Jesus Christ, can restore us to usefulness by making a new person out of us.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalms 1:6

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:5

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

God is salvaging some of the world's population from destruction. He is sending out his Word by his servants to warn men of the coming judgment and the eternal destruction ahead for all who fail to heed his call. Like the treasures at the bottom of the seas that are never recovered, so will be the many souls who refuse to accept the life line that is thrown out to rescue them. Jesus is the lifeline that is offered. He is the only means of security.

Jesus is the only SOS (Save Our Souls)

I wonder, will you lie in the depths of darkness where you will forever be forsaken of God? Your soul is so precious to the Savior that He was willing to bear the agony of Calvary's cross to secure your salvation to be with him in heaven forever. His greatest desire is to love you and bless you in his presence throughout eternity. He will not force himself upon you but he seeks to get your attention, lest you neglect your soul's salvation.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23

You remember the great ship the Titanic that set sail in 1912 as the largest ship ever that was suppose to be unsinkable? Someone, it is said, made the comment that not even God almighty could sink that ship. It sank! It sank on it's first voyage and hundreds of people lost their lives. Recently they have been able to go down and find that great ship that lies broken at the bottom of the sea in the North Atlantic Ocean. What a reminder, how insecure life is. We are at the mercy of the Lord and he offers to save us before destruction comes and we are forever doomed in our sin.

If you are saved, it will be God's way. If you go to Heaven, it will be God's way. If you miss that one way, it will be hell for you forever. Remember God's Word says,

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

It will be a sad day for many,

Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; Proverbs 1:24

If you were out in the ocean and could not swim to shore and someone threw you a life jacket, would you refuse to take it? Would you refuse to allow someone to save you? I don't think so, and yet that is what many people are doing with their soul. God is sending his Word out inviting people to believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ as their own personal savior and they will be saved and ready for eternity in heaven. But it appears that most people neglect to repent of their sin and turn to Christ for salvation. They do not understand that God is not going to force them to believe and will allow them to be lost forever. But, before they are forever lost God is attempting to salvage their sinful soul and cause them to be the children of God.

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 3:36

How foolish many will be on judgment day when they see how unwise they were in failing to trust Jesus as their savior. Hopefully, none of my readers will be in that multitude. May I ask you in closing, has your soul been salvaged for the Lord Jesus Christ and your eternal God?

Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for the offer of salvation through your Son the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray for all of those who read this message and should someone not know you, I pray for their salvation. Bless us all for Jesus sake and help us serve you with gladness. Amen, Preacher