Johnny Bartek was excited. He was going to be flying on the same plane as Captain Eddie Rickeacker. Johnny was just an airman on the plane; however, like everyone else he had important jobs to do. But to have the most famous person in aviation in the same plane—that was really exciting!
Eddie Rickenbacker was America’s best-known pilot during World War I. After the war he was actively involved in the developing airline industry. Now the country was at war again. He was helping the country by making an inspection trip of airplane facilities in the South Pacific.
The bomber lifted off the runway in Honolulu for the 1800 mile trip to Canton Island. Johnny’s job during the flight was to keep a constant watch on the gasoline levels and to switch tanks when necessary. It was also his job to make sure that the landing gear operated properly and was firmly locked in place when the plane was making its landing approach.
Johnny was different from the other eight members of the flight crew—he was a Christian. He knew the Lord Jesus Christ as his own Saviour. Everyone knew Johnny as “the kid with the Bible.” He took his share of kidding, especially at first, from the other members of the crew. They were older than he was and did not like to have Johnny speak to them about Christ.
As the plane flew across the ocean, the weather turned bad. The pilot was forced to fly entirely by instruments. It was then they discovered that the instruments were not working properly. The pilot soon realized that they were lost—lost in the vast Pacific Ocean, with no way of being rescued. They made radio contact with a ship, but they did not know where they were. The plane “crash-landed” in the ocean after running out of fuel. All eight men were able to get into the three life rafts they threw out of the plane. However, the only food they had was four oranges.
These men were in a frightening situation! They were lost in the ocean with no drinking water, and had only four oranges to divide among the eight of them. As strong and as brave as these men were, there was nothing they could do for themselves. They were helpless!
The sinner without Christ is also helpless. The Bible tells us that “there is no difference; for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:22,2322Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:22‑23). As sinners away from God, we are lost! The men in the three life rafts could only drift in the ocean. Even if they knew which way they wanted to go, they had no way of getting there. They needed someone to rescue them. God saw us in our helpless condition, drifting along in sin, and sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to rescue us. We are sinners, and God must punish sin. The Lord Jesus took the punishment for our sins on Calvary’s cross. If we believe that He died for our sins, we are saved. It is His blood, which was shed on the cross, that protects us from the punishment we deserve for our sins.
At first the eight men didn’t worry about their situation. They knew they would be reported as missing and that search planes would soon be looking for them. What they didn’t know was that they were so far off their planned course that search planes could not locate them.
Day after day the hot, tropical sun burned down on them. They were continually drenched with spray from the waves. Between their sunburn and the salt water, they developed painful sores over much of their bodies. One of the oranges was divided each day among the eight men. All this did was make them wish for more. After four days the oranges were gone.
One day while Johnny was reading his Bible, someone suggested that he read it out loud. After that, each day the rafts drew together for prayer and the reading of the Bible.
Five days after they had crashed, Johnny read Matthew 6:31-3431Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matthew 6:31‑34) to them: “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
Johnny had been praying that the Lord would send them something to eat. God answered Johnny’s prayer in a very special way. Captain Rickenbacker was sitting with his eyes closed when he felt something land on his head. Opening his eyes, he could tell from the looks of the other men that it must be something that could be eaten. Very slowly he moved his right hand up to his hat, a fraction of an inch at a time, so as not to scare off the bird. His hand was guided by the eyes of the others who were watching. When his hand was close to where he felt the bird should be, he grabbed it! He closed his hand on the leg of a large sea gull.
The gull was used as food for the eight men. However, they saved parts of it to be used as bait for the fishing hook and line that was in the raft. They soon caught other fish, which the men quickly ate.
The Lord also answered Johnny’s prayer for water. A thunderstorm passed over them. They caught the rain in canvas covers which were in the rafts, pouring it into the bailing buckets. They drank all the water they could. The heavy rainfall also washed the salt from their sores.
During the three and one-half weeks, the eight men suffered much. One of the men, who had been injured in the crash, died. The other seven men survived because of the frequent rainstorms and fish that the Lord provided. Some of these fish even jumped right into the rafts!
The Air Force continued to search for these men. They were finally spotted and rescued nearly 500 miles from Canton Island, where their flight had been headed. Sever-
al of the men were in very poor condition when they were rescued, but they all recovered.
God continues to seek those who will trust in Him. We must first realize that we are lost, because of our sins, and on our way to hell. If we understand that we are sinners and cannot help ourselves, then we can ask the Lord Jesus to save us. He has “come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10). For those who accept Him as their Saviour, He has promised to “save them... that come unto God by Him.” Hebrews 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25). He is a wonderful Saviour. Have you accepted Him as your own Saviour?
ML-05/24/1981