At a Bible conference held in Hamilton, Ontario, a Christian who became a servant of Christ told the story of his conversion.
It was through the late John Harper, a well-known and much esteemed servant of God. He and our friend, then unconverted, were passengers on the Titanic on her ill-fated voyage across the Atlantic.
The great ship was sinking. With hundreds of others he, our unsaved friend, was struggling in the cold waters of the ocean. Laying hold of a floating object, he was enabled to keep himself from sinking until rescued.
Suddenly above the groans and shrieks of the terrified passengers, the voice of John Harper was heard calling to him: "Is your soul saved?"
Our friend replied, "I fear it is not."
"Then," said the herald of the cross, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved."
His voice grew faint as he was carried along by the waves. The ruling passion of his life was strong in death, as was evinced in his telling those around him God's way of salvation. In recounting the story, the speaker testified that the words borne to him over the water were spoken to him by Mr. Harper. They were used of God to his eternal blessing. "Right then," said he, "with two miles of water beneath me, I believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and was saved."
Shortly afterward, someone heard Mr. Harper saying, "I am going down! I am going down!" Then, "No, no! I am going up!" and the soul-winner was called to be with his Savior, whom he loved and served. Our friend, with others, was rescued and taken to New York.
Though John Harper's body went down, his spirit went up. Scripture shows us that the believer, in departing from this life, goes to be "with Christ, which is far better." Phil. 1:2323For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23). Where is Christ? Seated at the right hand of God. To the believer, "absent from the body" is to be "present with the Lord."
Reader, if your body had gone down into the waters of death, would your spirit have gone up into life everlasting?
"No one knows," says one.
Speak for yourself, friend; but don't say that "no one knows."
The early Christians knew that they were "saved," "converted," "born again." They knew that if they were called into eternity they would be with Christ. If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ—that He died for your sins on Calvary's cross—you have the authority of the Word of the living God for it that you are "saved" (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)), "justified" (Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)), and "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)).
A reader may say, "I don't believe in sudden conversions."
All conversions are "sudden." There may be exercise of soul for weeks or months, but there is a moment when a sinner passes from death unto life, from darkness into light. One moment he is on the "broad road" leading to destruction, and the next on the "narrow way" leading to life, and bliss, and glory.
Will you now believe the "testimony," "record," or "witness" that God has given concerning Christ? As long as you continue in unbelief you are guilty of the horrid sin of calling the eternal God a liar! I pray you: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31).