The crew aboard the Japanese ship, the Lee Wang Zin, all died, and no one may ever know why. The 30-man crew disappeared when the huge freighter loaded with iron ore hit a reef just off the coast of Alaska and capsized. In answer to a final radio distress signal, rescue ships were sent to try to rescue them. When the freighter was finally sighted bottom up, it looked like a beached whale with a red iron stomach. There was no sign of life. What about the crew? Had they all died and gone into eternity?
Since there was no sign of survivors or life rafts, the rescuers made every effort to determine if any of the ship’s 30 crewmen were still alive inside the ship. With difficulty, they were able to climb onto the bottom of the overturned ship. They tried to make contact with any of the crew who might be trapped inside.
Being trapped with no possibility of escape must be a terrible experience, yet many in the world today are trapped in Satan’s chains. Men and women, boys and girls go through this world without knowing that they are slaves of sin and Satan. Then suddenly, unprepared, they come face to face with death. “Prepare to meet thy God.” Amos 4:1212Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. (Amos 4:12). But what about the crew? Were they still alive, trapped in the hull, or had they already gone into eternity?
The courageous efforts of the rescuers were useless. “After five minutes we knew we were the only men alive on that ship,” said one of them. Another rescuer dressed in diving gear was able to get into the hold of the overturned ship. When he came back up to the surface he said, “There are no pockets of air anywhere... there is no hope.” No hope! What a grim statement. There was no hope for the lives of the 30 crewmen. The life rafts were right there, fully equipped, but they had not been used. “The whole thing is strange, very strange,” said Lt. Ensley of the Coast Guard. “I doubt we will ever know what happened to doom her.”
For the 30 men of the Lee Wang Zin, it is now too late. They have passed from this world into eternity. Only God knows whether they are with Jesus Christ in heaven or are in a lost eternity with “no hope.” If you had been one of the crew of the Lee Wang Zin, where would your never-dying soul be now? The Bible says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2). It also tells us to “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). Believe in Him now; accept Him as your own Saviour and be sure your sins have been forgiven.
ML-12/01/1985