CAPTAIN JOHNSON was a hard drinking, old “sea dog.” He swore at his men and worked them so hard that they all but hated him and his constant drunkenness disgusted them. Some even talked of throwing him overboard on a stormy night at sea.
Suddenly, however, the captain was overtaken by a serious illness. The first mate took charge of the ship while the captain was left alone in his cabin, the crew not caring how sick he might be. A whole week passed without a man looking in on their captain. One of the members of the crew was a young boy, Bob Keller. The thought of the sick man suffering alone in his cabin touched Bob’s heart and, despite the opposition of his associates, he determined to look in on Captain Johnson and speak to him. So, opening the door, he called out, “Captain, how are you?”
“What’s that to you; get out of here!” a surly voice replied.
Thus rebuffed, the boy went on deck and went about his chores. Next morning he determined to make another attempt. This time he said, “Captain, I hope you are feeling beer!”
“Oh, Bob, I’m very sick.”
The boy, encouraged by this mild answer, drew near the bunk and said, “Captain, let me wash your hands and face; it will refresh you.”
The captain nodded his approval and Bob went ahead. Then Bob offered to shave the captain’s whiskers and again he received approval. Finally Bob made some tea.
Captain Johnson had been a desperate and wicked man, more so than most and as he knew he could expect no mercy from his crew, so he was determined he would not ask them for any.
“I’ll die,” he said, “rather than ask one favor of them.”
But the unasked and undeserved kindness of the cabin boy found its way to the heart of this violent man.
In spite of all his daring, independent spirit, his heart melted and there was a tear in his eye. How many ways God has of gaining access to the hearts of His stubborn and rebellious creatures!
Captain Johnson soon felt better from the washing and the shave and the cup of hot tea. Now he permitted Bob to do other things for him. Hover, the old seaman could not rise from his bed. Rather than getting stronger he seemed weaker each day until he was convinced that he would live for only a few weeks at most.
Now thoughts of death and eternity occupied his mind and terrified him.
He had been brought up as a youth among the worst of seamen, had followed their principles and practices and had refused all protest and reproof. He had served on a navy vessel and then on a number of merchant ships. Finally he became master of one. But in all this he became hardened in heart and not only said, “There is no God,” but also acted as if he really believed that.
Conscience, however, though it was dulled, still was at work and convicted his guilty soul. The thought of death alarmed him, for he was ignorant of God and God’s way of redemption from sin. One morning as Bob opened the cabin door the captain burst into tears as Bob affectionately asked, “Well, captain, how is it with you this morning?”
“Ah, Bob, I’m very bad; my body is getting worse and worse. I should not mind that so much were it not for my soul. Oh, Bob, what shall I do? I am a great sinner; I’m afraid I shall go to hell. I deserve that. Alas, Bob, I’m a lost sinner.”
“Oh no, captain,” said the boy, “don’t be alarmed, God is merciful and I am sure He will save you.”
“No, Bob, no; I can’t see the least chance of being saved. What a sinner I have been!”
His stony heart was broken and he poured out his thoughts to the boy who tried his best to comfort hire: but in vain.
Another morning the captain said “Oh, Bob, I’ve been thinking about the Bible. I know there isn’t one here in my cabin but ask the other men if they have one.”
Bob did as his captain asked and perhaps surprisingly, found a copy of the Bible. He returned with it to the cabin and was met with tears of joy.
“Oh, Bob, that will do, that will do. Read to me and I shall soon know whether such a wicked man as I am can be saved, and how it can be done.”
“Where shall I read, master?”
“I do not know, Bob, but try to pick out some places that speak about sinners and salvation.”
“Well, master, then I’ll take the New Testament. You and I will understand it better for, as my mother used to say, there are not so many hard words there.”
For more than two hours Bob read the Bible and the captain listened to every word as well he might with death seeming to be near at hand.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.” Rom. 1:18.
Sinner friend, do you, like Captain Johnson, wonder how God can save lost sinners? Listen: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
ML-01/13/1963