A naval vessel patrolling in the South Pacific during World War II one hot, August night became engaged in a fierce battle. At midnight, an exhausted nineteen-year-old signalman finished his watch, and, placing his standard issue rubber life belt next to him, lay down still wearing his uniform. Two hours later a loud explosion awakened the sailor. Strapping on his life belt he rushed on deck. There, in the chaos and destruction of the raging battle, he received wounds to his legs. As he painfully made his way towards a gun turret, another explosion blew him off the ship and into the dark waters of the shark-infested ocean.
Thankfully his life belt immediately inflated and kept him afloat until, four agonizing hours later, another American warship rescued him. Before long the sailor, with his legs bandaged, was back on board his own ship. However, the vessel was so badly damaged that it could not be saved. The “abandon ship” order was given and once more the young sailor found himself, with his life belt, in the ocean.
Eventually another American warship picked him up—one of just a few survivors from his sunken ship. He was issued a clean uniform and later was sent stateside on leave. Though his old uniform was discarded, because the rubber life belt had been manufactured by a tire company in the very town in which he lived, the young man kept it as a souvenir.
Sometime later, he was sitting at the kitchen table in his home, telling his mother about the terrible battle. During their talk, she mentioned that she had gotten a wartime job at the local tire plant. Hearing this, the surprised sailor went to get his “souvenir.”
Placing it on the table, he said, “Look at that, Mom. My life belt was made right here at your factory.”
Taking the rubber belt in her hands, she studied the label. It was now her turn to be surprised. Looking at her son with tears, she whispered, “I work as an inspector, checking these very belts. This one is stamped with my inspector’s number!”
Let’s remember that in every area of life, Christians have a far greater reason for living faithfully, diligently and virtuously than this mother who toiled in that factory so many years ago.
We are to “do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:3131Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)), while carrying out “all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:1717And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:17)), and to “do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Col. 3:2323And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (Colossians 3:23)).
A day is coming when all that we have done in this life will be reviewed, and each thing that has pleased our blessed Saviour will receive His approval (2 Cor. 5:1010For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10))—an infinitely better reward than the joy that mother’s heart received when seeing the result of her diligent faithfulness.
Ed.