One warm spring day, many years ago, the sun shone brightly upon a group of merry children at play, in the pretty garden of a cottage in the suburbs of a busy city.
Within the home, a slender boy of twelve sat curled up in a cushioned chair, poring over a book.
"William, my child, why do you not leave your book, and run out in the sunshine and play with the other children?" And the fond mother bent over her handsome boy, stroking his fair curls, and gazing lovingly into his shining blue eyes.
"O, mother darling, the children are so rough in their play, and I am tired-tired,” and, throwing his arms around her neck, he drew her to him.
The mother sighed deeply as she turned away, for her pale delicate boy was the object of her constant tender care and solicitude. But as usual he had gained his point, and was left to pore over his loved book, in peace. Thus it was day after day and while the other children grew sturdy and strong, William remained frail and delicate. His bright, active mind seemed to develop at the expense of his tall slender body. His devoted mother mourned and lamented over this fact, but was unable to change it.
William's mother was a true child of God and, wishing that her children should be taught the Word of God, she allowed them to attend a little Sunday School in the neighborhood. One of the verses that he learned at this time clung to his memory, and through it God was surely speaking to him in "a still small voice." It was this: "Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." Psa. 50:1515And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psalm 50:15). But to William there seemed no "day of trouble" then, so he felt no need of calling on God.
"But though he did not realize it, he really was in a "day of trouble," for he was not a believer in the Lord Jesus, and God says in His Word: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36).
Surely to have "the wrath of God" abiding on one, would make it a "day of trouble," but William was unconscious of this, and so the years slipped by quietly and peacefully, and he was happy in the loving care and companionship of his fond mother, whose tender love he returned with all the ardor of his young heart.
William was now seventeen years old, and he had entered the university, when a sudden change came. His devoted mother was taken from his side, leaving him sad, desolate, and inconsolable. It seemed as though the light of his life had gone out, and he was plunged in darkness and despair. In his grief, he lost interest in his studies, and seemed unable to apply himself to anything. Surely God was again speaking to him, this time in louder tones, though with a voice of tenderest sympathy and love.
"Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." But he heeded not the gracious invitation.
One of his sisters took him into her home, to care for and comfort him, and while there he met a number of navy officers, who tried to interest him with thrilling tales of their adventures on the great deep, but he grew only more restless and unhappy.
Just at this time, his brother, who was a sea-captain, returned from a long voyage, bringing his vessel into port. It was decided that William should go with him on his next voyage. He was cheered by the prospect of a free life on the ocean wave, thinking to drown the sorrow of his aching heart in the excitement of this new venturous life. Little did the poor boy realize at this time that the eye of God was continually looking down upon him in pity and love, guiding his every move.
It was the month of November when the vessel set sail, and for a time all went well. But one morning, as their vessel was plowing the waters of the Baltic Sea, the clouds began to gather, and the wind blew stronger and stronger as the hours wore away, till at last the storm burst upon them in all its fury. The great waves rose mountains high, carrying the little vessel in their arms, curling over it, and then dashing it down into the foaming abyss below, threatening each time to crush it like an egg-shell. These giant arms of wind-tossed waves tore away the sails and rigging, and splintered the masts, and finally, in fiendish glee, battered a hole in the hold of the vessel, and the water began pushing its way in. Every available man was called to the pumps, but in vain, for the vessel was filling faster than the frantic efforts of the sailors could pump the water out. All this time the cruel wind was driving the helpless vessel towards the rocks. Darkness had now settled down upon them, and the fury of the storm was unabated. The hopeless horror of the situation filled every heart with sickening terror and despair.
Verily God was once again calling to William, not now in the still small voice, nor in the gentle tones of tender sympathy, but with the voice as of a trumpet. Clearly it might be heard, above the mighty roar of wind and waves, louder even than the peals of thunder that rolled across the face of the angry heavens, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee; and thou shalt glorify Me.”
Suddenly there came a shock! The vessel had struck and fastened itself on a sand-bar. Amid the darkness and tempest, the anchors were hastily cast. The boats were lowered, but they were crushed to pieces by the violence of the waves the instant they came within their grasp. Now the last hope of being saved was gone, for the ship would soon be broken to pieces by the pitiless waves that pounded her decks.
Sick at heart, faint from exhaustion, and trembling with terror, William came dragging himself up from the pumps in the hold, hopeless, helpless, nothing before him but a grave in the black, icy waters of the deep. But fiercer than his bodily suffering was the anguish of his heart as he thought of his never-dying soul, which would then be lost eternally.
Suddenly, like a flash, above the roar of the elements, there sounded in his heart the voice of his God, reverberating down into the depths of his inmost being, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.”
Crawling into his cabin, he fell on his face, crying to God in all his misery, weakness, and fear, pleading to be "delivered" in this his "day of trouble," promising the Lord that, if He would only save him from this cruel death, he would search out the way of salvation for his soul, and spend the rest of his life for Him. Even as he called, a great calm stole over his tempest-tossed heart, and simultaneously, a great calm settled over the raging waters of the angry deep. It was almost a repetition of that scene of old, when the Master's voice rang out over the storm-tossed sea.
"Peace, be still, and there was a great calm.”
That long night of storm and suffering in the ship and on the sea was drawing to a close, and the day was beginning to dawn. One of the sailors, climbing a spar still standing, lighted a piece of cloth, and waved a signal of distress to the distant shore. This was seen by the watchers there, and soon the lifeboats were alongside, and strong arms and kind hearts, were waiting to rescue the poor, exhausted, half-frozen crew, as they dropped, one by one, into the boats. At last it was William's turn, and though he had scarcely strength enough to move, he managed to climb out and drop to safety. As he crept away into a little corner of the lifeboat, though his shivering body was full of pain and misery, yet his heart was filled with deep, sweet peace, and joy and gratitude to his God, who had so marvelously heard his "call," and "delivered" him, and saved him. The strong arms and kind hearts of their rescuers soon bore them to a place of warmth and safety, and ministered to their every need, nursing them back to life.
True to his promise, as soon as William was able, he found his way to a company of the Lord's own people, and from them he heard the sweet story of the love of God in His provision for the salvation of poor lost sinners, through simple faith in the atoning death of His beloved Son. With the faith of a little child, he eagerly and joyfully accepted God's priceless "gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Thus his soul, like his body, was saved from perishing, 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 3:1616For 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).
Through his long life of eighty-seven years, William never faltered in the path of faith, and he did indeed fulfill the latter part of his verse, "thou shalt glorify Me." He loved to tell to saint and sinner the thrilling story of the marvelous goodness of God in so miraculously saving him, body and soul, from the very jaws of death.
O reader, if you have not yet heeded His call, let this story be a voice from God to you. Do not refuse to listen to this "still small voice," and so compel Him, as in William's case, to use the voice of thunder in some fierce trial before you will heed. Listen once more to His gracious invitation.