In 1940 I entered the Royal Navy and was drafted to the H.M.S. Exeter. I soon found that there was a "religious" man on board, and he offered me a little booklet called "The Way of Salvation." This I took, promising to read it. One day when I had nothing to do, I read the booklet containing several verses from the Word of God. One verse in particular impressed me. It was 1 John 1:7.
"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." But I soon forgot it.
Before long we were hit by the enemy and began to sink. Three and a half hours later I was taken aboard an enemy-destroyer, and my "religious" shipmate was one of those taken prisoner with me.
Soon we were taken to a prison camp. One night I was afraid to go to sleep—I was troubled about my past sins and afraid to meet God. Tired and weak, I went to my Christian friend and told him all about it. He took me out of the noise and chatter of our little bamboo and grass hut, and under the open tropical sky lit with moon and stars, spoke of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He said, "Believe God and what He says in His Word. The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.' “I went down on my knees and claimed the forgiveness God promised to repentant sinners, and received the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. The joy that followed was inexpressible. His presence made that prison camp seem like heaven to me.
And you, dear reader, have you too the joy and peace that comes with believing God? The pleasures that this world offers are very fleeting, and cannot be compared to what the believer in Christ has. There are two things necessary for the salvation of your soul: the work of Christ on the cross, and your acceptance of His work. If you have not yet told the Lord Jesus that you receive Him as your Savior, do so at once while it is still the day of His grace.
"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.