HERE we see a sailor boy whose name is Jack; he is probably home from a long voyage on the ocean, and is telling his sister some of his experiences at sea; see how interested she is in what her brother says. He ought to be very thankful to the Lord that his life has been spared, and that he is brought back safely to his loved ones.
I want to tell you, though, about another sailor boy; his name was Ned. He had quite a different experience from Jack. A terrible storm came up one night at sea as he was homeward bound, and his ship was wrecked on the rocks. Though but a young man, he had put his faith in Jesus and had been faithful in speaking of his Saviour to the captain and crew. This awful night the sailors heard Ned pray aloud that the Lord would rescue those of his companions in the life boat who were not prepared to die.
His prayer was answered, for among the men that were saved from a watery grave was the godless captain. When he was able to speak, he called out, “Who’s saved? Who’s saved? Where’s Ned?” God had permitted dear Ned to be left on the sinking ship; when the captain heard this, he was so touched that he persuaded his men to turn back and row against the fierce, tossing waves toward the wreck. They found poor Ned had gone down, but on a drifting plank they saw a book—tears ran down the weather-beaten cheeks of the hardened old captain as he opened the book and found it to be Ned’s Bible. Many a time had Ned begged the captain to seek the Lord and to listen to God’s word, but only sport had been made of the sailor lad’s prayers and entreaties.
The Lord had answered Ned’s prayer in preserving the lives of his unsaved companions, and in later years He answered his prayer in saving the souls of six of the crew; the old captain being the first to turn to the Lord. The underlined verses in this well-worn Bible came home with the Spirit’s power to these men.
“THE LORD IS NIGH UNTO ALL THEM THAT CALL UPON HIM.” Ps. 145:18.
ML 03/24/1912