During World War II, when a certain destroyer left the U.S.A., each man was given a New Testament with the Psalms. One sailor, who never had opened or read one, stuck it in his pocket as a sort of charm -a talisman he wore, but forgot it otherwise.
During the first battle of the Solomons the ship was sunk. Five men managed to jump into a rubber boat and were carried away by the waves. They all realized there was little chance of a rescue. Then one of them happened to think of the little Testament given to him before he sailed. He took it out of his pocket, and when he opened it to read for himself, three men laughed at him. The fifth man said, “Keep on reading, and what you read, read out loud so we can all hear.”
He had opened at the Psalms and read part of Psalm 91: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.”
“IN HIM WILL I TRUST!” There was something to hold on to, even in the waves and billows of the most unpeaceful Pacific Ocean. Two hearts seized it, two men clung to the promise, and by the grace of God went on to learn more of Him and to trust the Lord Jesus as their Saviour.
Darkness came on. One by one, the men who had laughed at the Bible reading had been swept off the raft and were lost in the sea. All at once the searchlight from an approaching ship came on and the men on the raft were caught in its beam. It never left them, although they were being tossed up and down in the waves.
Soon they were lifted out of their dangerous position, and to their delight they found that they were again on a U.S. destroyer. The first thing they said was that God had saved them from the sea and that He had saved their souls as well. How wonderful are God’s ways!
“They that go down to the sea in ships . . . these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They . . . are at their wits’ end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. . . . So He bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:23-3123They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; 24These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. 25For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 26They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. 27They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. 28Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 29He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 30Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 31Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (Psalm 107:23‑31)).
What sorrow deep, and what sadness,
For the rich, or poor, or slave,
To die without a ray of hope
And lie in a Christless grave.
But the grace of God has given
A Saviour strong who can save;
He died that none should perish
And lie in a Christless grave.
Upon the hill dark and dreary,
The Outcast of heaven and earth
Finished the work of redemption,
To give unto man a new birth.
Behold your sin and your folly!
Your sins put Christ on the tree,
But grace will put you in glory
Where from sin you will ever be free.
Acknowledge now you are guilty;
Believe on the Lord who gave
His precious blood to redeem you
From hell and a Christless grave.