Many years ago a young man lived all alone on an island in the Pacific Ocean, because he chose to. It was his decision. But let’s go back to the beginning of the story.
The man’s name was Alex Selkirk. He was born and raised in a small town in Scotland and had always been a rebellious boy. When he reached his teens the problem he had been to his parents and teachers only got worse. This behavior got him in trouble not only at home and school, but also with the town police. Between the ages of 14 and 18 he ran away from home twice. Other times his conduct landed him in jail.
The last time he ran away he went to a large seaport town. Dreaming of adventures in faraway countries, Alex got a job on a sailing ship that was ready to leave port. However, he soon found out that things on board ship were no different than on land. Again, it was his conduct which got him in trouble. He was always quarreling and fighting with the other crew members.
One day the ship was anchored in a bay of a small island so the crew could make minor repairs. During this time Alex got in an argument with the captain. In anger Alex demanded, “Put me off this ship! I would rather stay alone on this island than work on your ship!”
The Bible tells us that people often make unwise decisions when they are angry: “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:99Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)). Alex was going to wish he had never made that decision.
“Agreed!” shouted the captain. “Get your gear and off the ship with you!”
Alex got his sea chest that held his clothes and tools, and without any more discussion he was rowed ashore. Lifting his gear out of the small boat, he stood on the shore unafraid as the boat returned to the ship. He was still angry at the captain.
Suddenly his feelings were changing. Fear began to well up as he looked at the surroundings, realizing he would have to stay alone on the island where there was no shelter, no food, no other people and possibly wild animals. He might never have the chance to leave or see another person.
Alex began waving his hands and shouting, “Come back! Come back!” But they did not turn back. He thought he heard the captain laugh. The sailors climbed back into the ship and hoisted up the small boat. Soon the ship sailed out of sight.
Alone now, Alex became angry again. He was angry with himself, with the captain, with everything.
He soon realized it was going to take hard work to survive. He found a cave in the rocks and built a fire outside to keep wild animals away. He set his sea chest across the narrow entrance of the cave and then rolled himself in his blanket and went to sleep.
Many days passed. Still angry and lonely he survived on fish and fruit. He still blamed the captain for all his problems. Every day he watched hopefully for a passing ship he could signal to come rescue him.
After many days of feeling sorry for himself, Alex found a small Bible in his chest. Since he did not own one, he had no idea how it had gotten there. Perhaps one of the sailors on the ship had placed it there. Hungry for something to read, he took the Bible along to his lookout place on the rocks. When he opened it he read this verse: “They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in” (Psalm 107:44They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. (Psalm 107:4)).
Alex thought the verse described himself, lonely and in trouble. He read on: “Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way” (vss. 67). As he read of the Lord’s care and that “His mercy endureth forever,” he knew that God’s mercy had been over him. For the first time he realized that his own will and behavior had been the real cause of all his troubles.
Alex knew that God sent His Son to earth to suffer for man’s sins, but he had never thought that he himself needed to be forgiven. For the first time he felt ashamed of his life. He knelt down on his lookout rock and confessed to God how wrong he had been, and he accepted Christ as his Saviour and Friend.
After that Alex did not feel so alone since he knew the Lord was with him. He began to search the island and found much to help and interest him. He found fruit and nuts that he had not seen before. He built a small hut with shelves and a bench where he could sleep and be dry when it rained. He tamed a wild goat and some rabbits which were company for him. Now even the roaring of the seals sounded friendly to him.
Each day Alex read the Bible and found new things to enjoy. He even began remembering hymns he had known as a boy. He cut a notch in a tree each day to keep track of time. So the days passed pleasantly, and he didn’t mind the quiet.
At last one day Alex saw a ship in the distance. He built a big fire on the beach to attract attention and waved a white cloth tied on a pole. It was seen by the ship’s crew and a boat was sent to shore. With only the few things he could carry, Alex was rescued from the island which had been his home for over four years.
Some months later Alex finally got back to Scotland. He was a different person from the one who had left. He had learned much about himself, and God’s love and mercy had given him a new life.
Without Christ each of us is on a road that is leading to everlasting punishment in hell because of our sins. Alex Selkirk was stopped on that road, and the quiet time alone with God’s Word, the Bible, resulted in his salvation. Have you stopped to listen to God’s Word? He loves you and wants you to know Him and be saved from your sins. The Lord Jesus was punished on the cross by God for the sins of each person who will believe and accept Him as Saviour. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)).
Some people are so angry with everything in life that they blame God and ignore His love. Only by reading the Bible can we grasp His wonderful love. Then accepting Him as our very own Saviour, we will have a changed life that will be pleasing to Him. “Hereby perceive [understand] we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:1616Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16)).
Editor’s note: This true experience in the eighteenth century inspired some well-known adventure stories that you may have read in school.
ML-11/02/1997