Ted was a Russian living in southeast Poland. His wife was a true believer in Jesus Christ, but though Ted saw her rejoicing daily in God’s great salvation, he refused to accept it for himself. He insisted that he was “only an enquirer.”
In time he emigrated with his family to South America, where they settled as farmers in a Slavic colony. Many of his neighbors were Christians, and he attended the gospel meetings there with his wife. He began to enjoy mixing with believers, although remaining “only an enquirer” himself. He was like many who lived in Noah’s day before the flood—standing near the door of the ark, perhaps, and yet not entering in.
With the outbreak of World War II, Ted joined the Polish army. Soon after enlisting he told his family good-by and boarded a troop ship bound for Britain. In a few days they were far out on the Atlantic.
Ted’s ship was one of a convoy, heavily escorted on account of enemy submarines. But in spite of the protecting cover a dreaded sub succeeded in torpedoing the two troop-laden vessels sailing before and behind the one in which Ted sailed.
In that dreadful encounter it seemed that everyone prayed. Certainly Ted did! In deepest sincerity he told God that if He would but save him this once from drowning, he would take the first opportunity to find spiritual help and to put his trust in the Saviour he had so long refused.
God in mercy answered his prayer—and Ted remembered his promise. In a few days he found himself safe from the sea, stationed in a Polish military camp in Scotland.
On the first Sunday he was off duty, so he walked to the nearest town. Later he could be seen going slowly along the main street as if searching for something. He was looking for a church.
He soon found one. It was much more imposing than he was used to, but he timidly entered and sat down. Acquainted only with the Polish language, and not even able to recognize the Scottish tunes of the hymns, he again returned to the street and resumed his walk.
Before long he came to a simple hall and paused outside to listen to the singing. This time he was delighted to recognize the familiar notes of “Oh, happy day, that fixed my choice on Thee, my Saviour and my God.”
The music was irresistible, so he entered the building and sat down. To his amazement a man handed him a New Testament printed in Polish. He had been immediately recognized as a Polish soldier.
After the service, Ted soon made the Christians understand what his desire was, pointing first to the Testament and then to his heart.
Three evenings later he again entered the hall. A Polish gospel meeting had been arranged specially for the men from the Polish camp. After the service, the Polish speaker talked with Ted and listened to all his story. Finally the preacher asked, “Ted, from tonight are you going to belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, or remain ‘only an enquirer’?”
That night he walked back to camp rejoicing in the knowledge of a full and free salvation through the finished work of Christ for him upon the cross.
With the first opportunity he sent the good news of his salvation to his wife. Through the goodness of God he was kept through the war in safety, and when peace returned he was once more united with his family on their farm in South America.
How wonderful was the mercy of God to this poor soldier, first in saving him from what seemed certain death in the ocean, and then in saving him from his sins and in bringing him to a living faith in Christ Jesus.