Memory Verse: “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
The USS Benevolence, a Navy hospital ship, was returning from a trial run. While in a blinding fog two miles from the Golden Gate bridge, it collided with a freighter, the Mary Luckenbach. Because it was a trial run, the Benevolence carried two full crews: a navy crew and a civilian crew. A total of 526 persons were aboard. She sank within half an hour.
At the same time, John Napoli was heading home in his boat with a load of fish, after fishing most of the day. He had caught 550 pounds of fish, and was on his way back to his home port.
He was about two miles from the Golden Gate bridge when all of a sudden a Coast Guard boat moved out of the mist toward him. A voice over a loud speaker boomed: “We need your assistance. Follow me. There’s been a shipwreck.”
Napoli followed the Coast Guard boat to the area of the wreck. It was still so foggy that he could hardly see. Suddenly, he saw something bobbing in the water. It was a man, so he quickly pulled him in.
About then the fog lifted, and Napoli could see many heads boing up and down in the water. Then, just as quickly as it had lifted, the fog settled in again. But John Napoli had seen enough in those few seconds. He knew that there was work to do.
Slowly, he cruised through the area, pulling in survivors. Many were injured, and they were all in shock from the cold. As more and more survivors were brought in, the boxes of fish had to be thrown overboard to make room for the men. Napoli didn’t worry about that.
When he couldn’t hold any more people in his boat, he searched out the Mary Luckenbach and transferred his cargo of men to the ship. Then he went back for more.
Men were calling for help from both sides of his boat. He worked as fast as he could, but it was very tiring. None of the survivors could help themselves. They had to be pulled out of the water and onto the deck of the boat. The deck was three feet above the water, and it took all Napoli’s strength to pull the men into the boat. Napoli’s muscles were so tired that he could hardly move. His throat was parched, but he kept working.
By the end of the day, Napoli had rescued 70 people all by himself. He and other rescuers saved all but 23 of the 526 people on board the Benevolence. But for John Napoli it was quite a loss. The physical effort used that day crippled him for the rest of his life. He was 65 years old, and it was just too much for him.
John Napoli was rewarded for his courageous work. He was given a medal by the United States Navy, and all his expenses were paid. But the best reward that he received was thankfulness from the men he rescued. Letters, phone calls, flowers, money, visits and most of all, thanksgiving, came from those whose lives he saved.
Although he now is unable to work and is still suffering from the effects of that unforgettable afternoon, John Napoli says, “It was worth it.”
The Lord Jesus Christ has “come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10. God’s Word, the Bible, tells us in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Each one of us, man, woman, boy and girl are included in that word “all.” There is nothing that any of us can do to work our way to heaven. The Bible also says in Ephesians 2:8 and 9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”
All of the people on the USS Benevolence needed help and they needed it right away. None of them could have been saved without rescuers like John Napoli. Do you think that any of the 503 people who were rescued would have said, “No, I’m not interested” or “Thanks, I can help myself” when the rescue boat got to them?
Yet there are many people today who are saying “No” to God’s offer of love and mercy to them. They are sang, “I’m not interested” when the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is presented to them as the only way of being saved. They think they can work out their own salvation and get to heaven by their own good deeds.
How foolish! Do not be like those who turn their backs on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is only by believing on what He has done on the cross that we can be saved. There He suffered for our sins, so that we can be saved from the punishment we deserve. All we have to do is believe: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31. Accept Him as your Saviour today.
For those of us who are saved and know the Lord Jesus Christ as our own Saviour, what should our response be to His love? What was the response of those who were rescued by John Napoli? Did they just forget about thanking him for what he had done? No! Each one of them responded with the thankfulness and appreciation that John Napoli deserved. Do we thank the Lord Jesus each day for all He has done for us? John Napoli ruined his health in rescuing 70 people. The Lord Jesus Christ died for all who will believe in Him. "... Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood... to Him be glory and dominion Forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5,6.
ML-05/31/1981