Just before Jack's watch on the last night or the year, one of his fellow sailors said to him kindly: "Jack, some of us meet tonight to see the old year out. Shall we pray for you?"
Turning around in a rage, Jack shouted: "Make me your subject, if you dare, and I'll knock your brains out."
Though the stars shone overhead and the lights of the city gleamed in the distance, Jack at his post that night was not occupied with them. The parting words of his comrade were still ringing in his ears.
"I wonder what they'll say," he thought at length after his anger had died away. "Well, if they mention all my sins they'll have enough to keep them busy!"
One after another, many sins of the past came up before him, scenes from which many of his friends had been called away to judgment. Rousing himself he tried to shake off these memories, but in vain.
"We'll pray for you," rang in his ears. All at once brief scriptures learned as a child from his mother's Bible came up before him. Vainly he whistled and sang, and tried to think of everything else.
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die," said his memory. "The wrath of God abideth on him." "Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy," came before him. At last he saw himself a sinner before an avenging, slighted God. Despairing and trembling, he realized his hopelessness.
"Oh, what a list of sins I've got scored against me! he groaned. "I can't ever get them rubbed out."
He saw himself lost and helpless, fast sinking in the waves of sin and shame. But as Jesus appeared to Peter walking on the sea, so across the cold waves of doubt and despair came the heavenly Comforter into the heart of this poor sailor. To his memory came the gentle words of the Savior: "Be not afraid; only believe."
Alone at his post, Jack fell upon his knees. He believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, received Him into his heart, and was saved.
The far-off city bells tolled out the dying of the old year, and merry chimes announced the advent of the new, as Jack, a "new creature" in Christ, arose from his knees. Grasping the hand of a comrade who came to relieve him, he said with tears of joy, "Ned, I'm a new man in Christ Jesus."
His conversion was indeed sincere, and as he thought of the abyss from which he had been snatched, he could not sufficiently praise God's goodness.
After that, Jack was untiring in his efforts to show his former companions the folly of their ways; and more than one had reason to be grateful for Jack's new year.
Will you also believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and be made new?