There was a poor sailor who had lived a very wicked life, Once, while far off at sea, it pleased God to awaken his conscience and show him what a sinner he was Then he was in great distress. The thought that he might die in his sins and be lost forever was terrible to him. There was no one on board the ship to give him any help, or tell him what to do. But he read his Bible whenever he had a chance.
One night he lay in his berth in the forecastle. His shipmates were all asleep around him. In the dim light of the feeble lamp that hung near, he was trying to read a little in the Bible.
“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
He put his finger on this word “whosoever,” and thought about it. “Whosoever,” said he, “that means anybody; that means everybody. Why, that means me!”
ML 12/15/1968