In a Christian home in England lived a boy named Jim. He was the "black sheep" of the family and violently rebelled against his godly parents, whose one desire was to bring him up for the Lord. But life for him was more than just "being religious" and he vowed he would one day "get away from it all." So it was, at the age of fifteen, he ran away and joined the navy.
But a boy could not sign in on the navy at the age of fifteen without his parents' consent; and when his father found where Jim was he paid the price and bought the runaway out.
For awhile longer Jim stuck it out at home, but finally broke loose― and again joined the navy. This time he was in it to stay.
The fun and freedom from the restraints of home were sweet to Jim's wayward heart. No more corrections; no more gospel meetings; no more Bible readings; no more prayers. He had had enough religion to last for the rest of his life.
On the ship where he was posted Jim met an able seaman named Bill. He was an older and thoroughly ungodly man who soon won Jim's admiration. To him everything Bill did was right. He was proud to be under Bill's influence and called him his "mate." As they sailed the seas from port to port there was no evil nor vice in which they did not indulge. A notorious pair of sinners they were!
Years passed; and Jim and Bill both married English wives― and sorry lives both wives led with their drunken husbands. Eventually, both families were transferred to a naval dockyard in the Far East where British vessels were docked for refitting and repairs. Accommodation for naval personnel was good at the Base, and life for Jim and Bill soon resumed its old pattern.
Every Saturday found them in the town, invariably ending up dead drunk in one of the many bars; for such bars were always open to trap British and American servicemen.
But the prayers of the parents back home did not fall upon deaf ears in heaven, although "God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform."
At the Naval Base a gospel service was held for any who wished to attend; and there was also a Sunday School. Bill's children attended the Sunday School where they learned the sweet hymns and Bible stories which English children have learned down through the years. By these, the seeds of truth were carried into Bill's dark home.
One Sunday, one of Bill's little girls rehearsed the Bible story she had heard at Sunday School that day, and sang the Bible choruses. Secretly Bill's heart was touched; but he made no remarks; and the following Saturday found both Bill and Jim again at their favorite bar.
It was Jim's turn to pay for the drinks and he asked Bill what he would have. To Jim's utter amazement, Bill answered: "I do not want to drink; I want to pray."
Pray! The man must be crazy so naturally thought Jim. But Bill was adamant. He confided to Jim that his little girl's account of Sunday School had somehow touched his heart. Then he repeated with emphasis: "I do not want to drink; I want to pray."
This sudden turn of events was not relished by Jim, but he still had the decency to know that a bar was no place for prayer.
"If you want to pray, we must go to the Cathedral," he said; "you can't pray here."
The Cathedral was only minutes away and there they hurried. The doors were wide open. Together they crept inside and knelt in one of the pews. There was no one else in the church; but there were Bibles. Jim opened one at random. It happened to be at the third chapter of John, where Jesus talked with Nicodemus and told him, "Ye must be born again." Jim read aloud. The story was well known to him. But when he came to verse sixteen―
"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"―
The hearts of both men were melted by the fullness of the love of God. Both were constrained to cry aloud for mercy― to the God they had so recently blasphemed! And God who is rich in mercy heard their cries and answered by His Holy Spirit.
While still on their knees both men received the Savior and left the Cathedral cleansed from their scarlet sins, redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. They could hardly refrain from shouting for joy all the way home to the Base.
When Jim told his wife that he was saved and that he was a new creature in Christ Jesus, the poor woman could hardly believe a word of it. She was sure he was again under the influence of drink.
Subsequently, through the grace of God, both men had the joy of winning their wives to the Savior, with the result that there are now two more happy Christian homes.