"Jamie T.," as he was called by the fishermen around the Bay of Fundy, was a careless, godless, yet kind-hearted fellow. He was ever ready to give a helping hand on land or sea in the hour of need and was admired for his thorough honesty by all who knew him. But Jamie was "without Christ" and without peace with God.
It was customary among the Christian fishermen to have a meeting for prayer in one of their houses before the boats were to sail for the season's fishing. There they would commend themselves to the God who rules on sea and land, and in whose hand is the "deep sea." Then they would entrust their loved ones to His tender care during their absence.
On the day before the fleet was to sail, an elderly fisherman met Jamie early in the evening and said to him: "Won't you come to the prayer meeting, Jamie? You should let folks know that you are not an atheist, but believe there is a God."
The young fisherman hung his head in silence; but, not to disappoint his old friend, he said as he turned to go home: "Maybe I will, Sandy."
That was all. Jamie kept his word and was there, much to everyone's great surprise. And God spoke to his soul in the fisherman's cottage that night.
"What if I never come back?" he thought. "What will it be for me? Where will I be then?" And the thought of meeting God unsaved, unpardoned and unprepared gripped him as a vise.
While earnest prayer was ascending to God in heaven—and these fishermen can and do pray fervently—the young fisherman was seized with conviction of sin before God, and in such measure that he could not hold back his cry. So he called out loud: "Pray for me! I am a lost sinner and need a Savior."
No sound is more welcome to a true Christian than such a cry. So the fishermen, in earnest prayer, called on God for Jamie's conversion. A verse of Scripture quoted by one in his prayer pierced the young fisherman's soul. It was to him the word of deliverance: "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Jamie gripped it like a sinking man grabbing a rope and made it his own. "Sinners! It was for them He died?"
"Yes," said a chorus of voices.
'Then that's me! He died for ME." And then and there he rested his soul on Christ and was born of God. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." 1 John 5:11Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1 John 5:1).
When the boats sailed the next day, Jamie's song was heard above all the others across the waters: "We have an anchor that keeps the soul Steadfast and sure while the billows roll; Fastened to the Rock which cannot move, Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love."