Over fifty years ago in a little chapel in the islands a religious service was being held. At its close a young lad stood up and in a few words told how the Lord had saved him and made him happy. I heard that testimony, a message from God to my own soul.
Brought up in a godly home, I, the eldest of eleven children, had a careful upbringing. Although this was a great blessing, it cannot of itself produce conversion to God.
The testimony given by that Christian lad made me think on eternal things, and although its effect was for a time stifled, the truth of it was never forgotten.
Some time after this, one of my comrades lay dying. I went to see him, and with my hand in his he asked, "Willie, will you meet me in heaven?" That was another message from God to me.
I had gone to sea in the merchant marines. At home I had been more or less under restraint; but now in the company of profligate men I went freely into sin. This continued for about two years. I had warnings of God's judgment, and loving and earnest entreaties in letters from my parents. They never ceased to pray for my conversion; but I continued my evil course, going deeper into sin.
By and by I left the sea and went to live in a large city. There I sank deeper still. My father now gave up hope that I would ever be saved, but my mother continued to pray.
About six weeks after I came to this city, I had occasion to go to my chest for a pair of hose. As I unfolded them a slip of paper fell out. I picked it up and found written on it in my mother's handwriting: "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." Eccl. 12:11Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; (Ecclesiastes 12:1). My mother had put it there when she packed my box before I left home.
I looked at the words, and conviction of my sinfulness laid hold on me. How ungrateful I had been to my Christian parents! How heartless toward my mother's prayers and tears! How hardened I was in the sight of God!
Now the devil whispered: "You have gone too far. You have sinned too long. There is no use of hoping for mercy.”
For a week I was in deep distress of soul. My sins were before me, and I knew what I deserved at the hand of God. I had slighted His warnings and turned from His love.
In an agony of despair one July afternoon, I cast myself on the mercy of God. I knew I had no plea and no claim at all before Him except in Christ Jesus who "came to save sinners" (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)).
"Lord, save me! I perish," was the cry of my heart. And as God ever does to a soul conscious of its guilt and trusting only in the Savior, He met me as I was and saved me. I knew it, and had the joy of it in my soul that moment. The next mail carried the good news to my dear ones at home. Although I returned to the life of a seaman, it was as a sinner saved by grace. There amid many temptations the Lord has preserved me, and I have had happy times witnessing for Him wherever I've gone.