JIM WAS the black sheep of the family. In his home God’s name was honored and his parents sought earnestly to teach their children the simple truths of God’s Word. But Jim would have none of it. For him life was more than being “religious” and he vowed he would get away from it all. So at an early age he turned his back on home and those who so dearly loved him, ran away and joined the Navy.
What fun and freedom he had! No more gospel meetings for him! He had had enough to last him for the rest of his life.
Aboard the same ship Jim was on was an older seaman, named Bill. He was an ungodly fellow, but poor Jim in his ignorance thought that everything Bill did was just about right; he called him “his mate.” Between them there was no evil nor vice they were not into as they sailed from port to port overseas. A pair of hardened wicked sinners they were!
But the love of Jim’s dear parents at home never wavered. They cried to God without ceasing, praying that He would bring their poor wandering boy back to Himself and to them.
Years passed, and both Jim and Bill got married. Their poor wives had a sorry time of it with their drunken husbands. But they stuck with them and eventually both families were posted to a naval base in the Far East.
Each Saturday night Jim and Bill went into town and ended up drunk at one of the many bars there. But “God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform,” and the prayers of the dear parents at home were heard in heaven.
At the base there was a church service for any who wished to attend, and a Sunday school for children as well. Bill’s little children went to the Sunday school and there learned many sweet gospel hymns and stories from the Bible. One Sunday little Ann told her Daddy and Mommie one of the Bible stories and sang a chorus she had learned. Bill’s heart was touched, but he said nothing.
The following Saturday found Bill and Jim in town at their favorite bar. Jim asked Bill what drink he would have.
“I don’t want any drink, Jim,” he said. “I only want to pray.”
Pray! His mate must be out of his head, thought Jim, and he became alarmed. But Bill was firm. He then told him about his little girl, Ann, and of how her Sunday school lesson had somehow touched his poor hard wicked heart. “I want to pray, Jim; I don’t want to drink,” he repeated.
Jim was not too pleased with this sudden turn of events, but he had enough decency left to feel that a bar was scarcely the place for them to pray.
“We’ll have to go to the Cathedral, if you want to pray,” he said; “we can’t pray here.”
The Cathedral was only two or three blocks away and they made their way there. The doors were wide open, but not a soul did they find inside as they entered. They got on their knees in one of the pews. There were Bibles in the pews and Jim opened one at random. It happened to open at John’s Gospel, chapter 3, where our blessed Lord met Nicodemus on that memorable night and told him, “Ye must be born again.”
Jim knew it all so well, but when as he read aloud he came to verse 16, “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,” the consciences of both were overwhelmed and completely convicted. Both cried aloud for mercy to God against whom they had until now sinned and whom they had so dishonored. And God who is rich in mercy heard their cries and answered their prayers.
While on their knees they both found God’s pardoning grace and arose with the sense that their sins were forever gone, all washed away in the precious blood of Christ. Scarcely could they refrain from shouting for joy along the way as they walked back to their homes at the Base.
When Jim told his wife the wonderful news, that he was saved, that he was now a new creature in Christ Jesus and that old things had passed away, the poor girl could hardly believe a word of it at first. She was sure Jim was under the influence of drink again. But, no! this was a real work of the Spirit of God in the hearts of both Jim and Bill and they both went steadily on in the Christian life. Both had the joy of winning their wives for the Saviour, and now two happy Christian homes are the result of that work of God.
ML-11/25/1973