It was some years ago that a ship was crossing the Pacific Ocean. A fresh breeze was blowing as she sailed along on the bosom of the mighty deep.
A young sailor, Ronald Grant, was ordered to do a certain job on the ship’s hull. After making a bowline knot to sit in, he was lowered over the ship’s side to begin his work.
For a time all went well, but somehow he accidentally slipped from the bowline into the sea. Rising to the surface he found to his dismay and horror that his ship was speeding on her way and leaving him far behind. To attract the attention of those on board was impossible. Every moment he was being left further and further “astern,” left—
Helpless and Alone
with thousands of miles of ocean all around, and his ship still sailing on her way.
What could he do? To try to swim would be useless, for his strength would soon give out. In the mighty depths beneath lurked the great sharks, those killers of the sea.
In the midst of these perils, he thought of God. To Him, and to Him only, could he turn. Feeling assured that God was able and willing to save him, he cried to Him for mercy. That cry a gracious and merciful God heard and answered.
During all this time of Ronald’s deep sorrows and anxieties, unknown of course to any of his shipmates, God was ordering everything for his preservation, both body and soul. One of his mates went on deck to inquire for Ronald, and was told that he would find him at work over the side of the ship. Looking down over the railing, the mate was alarmed to find that Ronald was gone.
They searched the ship for him, but no trace of him could be found. The matter was at once reported to the officer of the watch, who in turn directed the signalman to search the horizon with his telescope. Soon the report came that he could see something far astern like a man’s head, just a speck on the ocean.
Immediately the ship was “put about,” the lifeboat was speedily lowered, and manned by a crew of brave men willing to do their utmost for their shipmate. After a long hard pull, with what joy they reached the spot, where Ronald was still afloat. They succeeded in getting their comrade into the boat— alive, though exhausted.
What a thrill of joy passed through Ronald’s heart when he saw that his cry to God had been heard and answered. First he had seen the sails of the ship begin to shake, proof that they were changing her course. Then he saw her brought round to the wind; and after a while he could see a boat coming straight toward him. What a relief!
Did Ronald forget the God who had so mercifully saved him from a watery grave? Oh no! Alone, in the presence of His majesty, he felt what a sinner he was, but by faith he accepted Christ, the sinner’s Saviour, and received eternal life and blessing. The last we heard of Ronald was that he, a monument of God’s rich grace and mercy, still lived to praise and serve Him for the love that sought and found him.
God’s present attitude towards man (praise His name!) is that he would have “all men to be saved.” We ask whether or not our reader has yet responded to His love and received the blessing to his soul which He so richly gives. God is still waiting, and is quite as ready to save your soul as He was this young sailor’s.
Do not lose your opportunity, dear reader. If it was a terrible feeling to be left helplessly alone in mid- ocean, what will it be to be left hopelessly alone in eternity — with out mercy, in the blackness and darkness of despair and torment, shut up to your own thoughts, and no one to blame but yourself? J.N.
ML 01/22/1967