A sailing ship was one day approaching St. Helena, a harbor in the Atlantic Ocean. Because even a capable captain may not know all about every harbor, a local pilot went out to meet the approaching vessel and to guide it in safely. After boarding the ship and talking to the captain, the pilot was invited to lunch.
He followed the captain and first mate into the dining room where all was ready for them. They sat down, and the pilot was not a little surprised when he saw the captain fold his hands and bow his head while he asked God’s blessing on the food. His attention was also attracted by a panel hanging on the wall, on which was painted in large letters: “PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD!”
The captain soon noticed that this writing seemed to interest his guest. Then, pointing, he said, “Look at this mark on the deck. There, on that spot, some years ago, I was brought to know the Lord Jesus as my Saviour.” And he began to tell the pilot about this wonderful incident in his life.
Years before, he had been a great sinner. That is true of all who do not believe in the Lord Jesus. But this captain had given himself over to drinking so that all the money he earned was spent on whiskey. Often he left home and went to sea leaving his wife and children without enough food and clothing.
One of the captain’s children, a girl of thirteen, found a friend in a Christian lady who dressed her in some nice clothes, fed her and brought her to Sunday school. She told her about Jesus, who loved poor sinners and came to earth to die for them. This Christian woman’s work was, through God’s blessing, used to bring the child to know herself as a sinner, and the Son of God as her Saviour. God spoke to her heart especially through John’s Gospel, chapter 3. She believed in Him who said, “He that believeth on Him is not condemned.”
She hurried home from school one evening, unable to express her joy, and told her mother how Jesus had saved her. She tried to persuade her father also to read the chapter. She hoped that the word of God, which had been so blessed to her own heart, would have the same effect on his.
But the time had not yet come; her father went on in his sinful ways.
Shortly after she was saved, the girl was taken very sick, and the doctor declared there was no hope of her recovery. When she heard this she said, with joy, “Now, if I die, my soul will still be saved.”
But her parents, not wanting to see their child die, sent for another doctor. He advised them to send her with her father on a trip to sea, for, said he, a sea voyage was the only thing that might restore the child’s health. Her mother was greatly disturbed at the thought of trusting the sick child to her rough father. At last, however, she contented, and soon the two set off together. While the ship was being loaded with its cargo, the captain saw to it that a large number of barrels of liquor were also taken on board.
At first the voyage went well; but one night shortly before midnight, while the captain and crew were tether talking and drinking, the vessel struck a reef. The sudden shock tended to sober the men. They realized the solemn fate that awaited them for they were far from help.
The captain made his way quickly to the top deck and taking in the situation at once, he shouted, “Out with the boats, or we’ll go to the bottom!”
What must have been the thoughts of those godless men as they realized their desperate case? It was a terrible thing to die in the depths of the ocean, far from home and friends, in the darkness of midnight, but worst of all to have to face God with all their sins on their consciences.
After the boats had been let down, the captain, who had quite forgotten his daughter, returned to his cabin to get his watch. Then above the roar of the sea and the confusion aboard, he heard the voice of his little girl praying. He saw her on her knees, and heard her words, “Lord Jesus, save us or we perish!”
Scarcely had she uttered the words when he heard, as if in direct answer to her prayer, the cry of the mate: “The wind has changed; the ship is free!”
As if struck by a thunder-bolt, the captain sank in his chair. He was overcome. His sinful life had been before him; he had heard his daughter’s prayer and now had seen the wonderful goodness of God who had heard and answered that prayer. He had seen the sudden change from unavoidable destruction, to the prospect of perfect safety. All this overwhelmed him. On the spot, where later on he made a mark on the deck, he sank to his knees. For the first time in his life he prayed, “O God, be merciful to me! I am a great sinner!”
The same gracious God, who had listened to his child’s prayer and saved the ship and all who were in it from certain destruction, now heard the prayer of a repentant sinner, accepted him, washed him from his sins in the blood of Jesus, and saved him for all eternity.
The next morning the captain ordered all the barrels of liquor thrown overboard so that neither he, nor his crew should be tempted by it any more.
When the captain had finished telling the story of his conversion, he asked the pilot, “Do you know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour?”
“Thanks be to God, I do,” the pilot replied.
“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
ML 04/30/1967