A YOUNG sailor boy during World War 2 phoned his mother from Norfolk, Virginia. “Mom,” he said, “I’m coming home for a few days.... Our ship is in the harbor for repairs. May I bring my buddy along with me?”
“Yes, son,” replied Mother, “bring him along.”
The boys were enjoying the days at home when they received word to be back at their ship in time to sail on a certain date at a certain hour. Then they went to Union Station in St. Louis to take the train back to Norfolk. There a ticket agent told them that another faster train left twelve hours later than the one they had planned to take and that it would get them to Norfolk two hours before sailing time.
“Suppose the train is late?” the boys asked.
The ticket agent assured them that the fast train was never late.
Taking the ticket agent at his word, the boys spent a few more pleasant hours at home, and then got on the train. But the fast train was late getting started and somehow seemed to lose time all along the way to Norfolk. The boys were uneasy from the start and, alas, when the train finally arrived it was two hours late.
The ship was just leaving harbor. Their sorrow was real, for the penalty for being late was two weeks in the brig on bread and water. The sailor boy wrote his mother, “Mom, I’ll never listen to anyone who tries to get me to take a chance of getting somewhere late again. We’re in this place on bread and water for two weeks.”
However, little did the boys realize at the time that God was over all and was working for their good. While they were in the brig serving their time, the ship sailed out into the ocean. About a hundred miles out it was torpedoed a second time and went down with all on board. Not one was saved.
So the two boys were spared providentially in the mercy of God. One of the boys was a Christian, and loved the Lord, who makes all things work together for good to those that love Him (Rom. 8:2828And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)). The other was given another opportunity to receive Christ as his Saviour.
God in His sovereign grace overruled in sparing these dear boys, and many of us who have been saved by the precious blood of Christ can look back and see where the Lord kept us and delivered us from many dangers. He has prosed, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Heb. 13:55Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5).
Dear reader, you too may be faced at this moment with some unknown danger. How would it be with you if you were taken suddenly away from this world? Would you die in your sins, or do you know what it is to have your sins forgiven? Christ is the only Saviour — “In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Col. 1:1414In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14).
by the late Ed. H. Rupp
ML-08/27/1972