MIKE, as his companions used to call him, had become a midshipman much against his parents’ wishes. He seemed naturally suited to the life he led—this tall, powerful lad, who loved to brave danger and difficulty, and who was ever the foremost in deeds of daring during storms. And now he was on his third voyage, and had just reached Calcutta. As the ship entered harbor an old gentleman boarded her, and courteously invited the captain to allow his men to join him in a little service on shore. “I have a room.” he said, “and if you will let any of the lads who would like to come go ashore, I should like to speak to them of Jesus.” The captain was not a converted man, but he always encouraged his crew to attend services when in port, so his consent was readily given.
That very evening a number of his men entered the preaching room, and the old gentleman spoke to them with much earnestness, beseeching them with tears to “come to Jesus NOW,” and to accept Christ as their Saviour. At last he said, “If any of you will decide for Christ new, come up to me here on the platform.” At that solemn moment Mike rose to his feet, but the companion by his side, laying a firm grasp upon the youth, whispered in his ear, as he pulled him back, “Mike, sit down, and don’t make a great fool of yourself; you will have all hands laughing at you.”
But not in vain had the Spirit of God been striving with this young heart, and though Satan would not yield his prey without an effort, Mike wrenched his coat from his neighbor’s hand and boldly walked towards the platform. He had reached the last line of seats when the youngest middy on board whispered, “Mike, wait for me; I will come with you.” Poor fellow! No doubt he was “almost persuaded,” but the one next him hurriedly pulled him down by his side again, and the opportunity of deciding for Christ was lost, perhaps forever. Walking up to the platform all alone, Mike said to the preacher, “I want to be saved NOW.... I accept the words ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.’... I believe and I am saved.”
On their return to the ship he called his young associates around him, and boldly confessed Christ. “Lads,” he said, “I am now converted to God. I have often entertained you by singing foolish songs, now no other songs but the songs of Jesus shall be upon my lips.” The young men listened to their formerly thoughtless shipmate; he, their hero, the one who had been the very center of their every sport, who had been such good company to the gavest, was now beseeching them to accept Christ as their Saviour, and to accept Him NOW. “Let us kneel down,” he said, “and I will cry to God to have mercy upon your souls.” Hearts were touched, and as they rose from their knees many begged their shipmate, with tears in their eyes, to give them Bibles. Later on it was his happy privilege to supply these interested souls with copies of the word of God.
It was now the joy of his heart to confess “Christ as his Saviour.” Writing home to his mother he said, “Oh, mother, you do not know how wicked I have been; I used actually to go into low public-houses not to drink, but to sing songs to amuse the men. When I left home, and said goodbye the last time, I was on my way to hell, but now I am on my way to heaven; the Shepherd has found His sheep, and I am so happy. Tell Nora, in case my letter to her is delayed a day or two. She will be so glad.” To her he wrote, “You will have heard from mother by this time that the lost one has been found. I nearly broke down when I said goodbye to you last time, and you looked at me with your clear, honest eyes and said, ‘You will be quite safe if you keep the fear of God before you and avoid evil companions.’ I felt I must break down, and tell you all what a wicked wretch I had been. Oh, Nora, pray for poor Charlie! I am sure he never thinks about his soul; and pray for A. and S. and M. and J. and father and mother. I wish they could all say with us, Jesus is my Saviour.”
Later on, when Mike’s voyage was over, and he was once more at home, it was his joy to testify brightly for his Lord and Saviour; and once, when Nora said to him, “Now you have to confess Christ— and you have already,” he replied, “Yes, and I like to do it. He bore all the shame and scoffing and spitting for me. What a wretch I should be if I did not confess Him in this little time.”
Time went on; it was now 1885. Two years had passed away since the young midshipman had decided for Christ. He had been voyaging about, but now his ship was returning, “homeward bound.” No doubt many hearts among her crew were beating high with joyful anticipations of glad welcomes to friends and home and parents. No doubt Mike’s Christian mother was yearning for her absent boy, as she used to say, “God bless his great warm heart.” And when the sorrowful news reached those distant homes that his ship had “gone down, and all hands lost,” many a heart ached for departed loved ones. Happy Mike! he has reached the eternal haven, the “Father’s house” on high; he has had his glad welcoming there, where no stormy wind and tempest can ever wreck his bright prospects.
Reader, have you decided for Christ? and are you “homeward bound”?
“His name the sinner hears,
And is from guilt set free;
’Tis music in his ears,
‘Tis life and victory.
His heart o’erflows with sacred joy,
And songs of praise his lips employ.”
S. C. M. A.