It was during the Kaffir war. The ship, "Birkenhead," transporting military personnel was cruising about three miles off shore, bound for Algo Bay. It was two o'clock in the morning and the five hundred soldiers with a number of wives and little children aboard were asleep. All was calm.
Suddenly, without a moment's warning, the ship struck a submerged reef. The impact tore a great hole in her hull and let in a flood of water which drowned one hundred men at once.
Realizing that his ship was doomed, the captain gave his orders.
"Lower the boats. Women and children first. No men leave but those absolutely necessary to man the boats." His commands were carried out with clockwork precision. There was no confusion.
On orders from their commanding officer the soldiers assembled on the deck as if on parade.
Among them was a Christian, and as the last boat was leaving he handed his Bible to one of the sailors in charge, saying: "Find out my mother if ever you reach the old country. She gave me this Bible when I left home. Tell her that I know how a fellow feels when there is joy in heaven over his repentance."
He was ready to go down with the ship and ready to go up to glory!
Twenty minutes after striking the reef, the "Birkenhead" went to the bottom, with the soldiers standing like statues on the deck.
Four hundred and thirty-eight souls were lost.
One hundred and ninety-two including all the women and children were saved.
Of all that great company only one gave a clear testimony. Probably many more could have done the same, but only one did it. Have you a clear conversion testimony to give? Has your repentance toward God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:2121Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21)) caused joy in Heaven? Then remember the word of God: "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9).