YEARS AGO a fine ship, the Birkenhead, struck the rocks and went down with hundreds of service men, their wives and children, in one of the great disasters of the sea. A touching story of youthful heroism is recorded of how a young officer of a Highland regiment gave his life to save another.
Alex Russell was just seventeen, and was ordered to command one of the lifeboats. As he sat in the stern he saw with dimmed eyes many of his comrades still standing on the deck. Then he watched the great ship go down, carrying with it hundreds of brave hearts. He saw too the sharks, those fearful creatures of the deep, and heard the cries of the drowning.
Just when all was safe for him, Alex saw a sailor’s head rise close by and a hand strive to grasp the side of the boat. The craft was already overloaded and to make room for one more would risk upsetting the boat. But as the sailor’s face rose close by again a mother called out in agony, “Save him! He’s my husband!” Young Alex looked at the mother, then at her children with her, then at the man struggling in the waves. The next moment he stood up and with a bold plunge he jumped clear of the boat into the water. With difficulty he helped the drowning sailor into what had been his own place in the boat — a place of safety. A chorus of “God bless you!” arose from those in the lifeboat; many closed their eyes in prayer. When they opened them again, Alex Russell was gone.
Wonderful love! for one man to give his life for another. It was pure human pity and grace, for the rescued sailor had no claim whatever. But brave Alex Russell dared to die for his fellow-man.
This stirring story illustrates, my friends, a deed far more wonderful. It reminds those who are saved of the marvelous grace of the Captain of their salvation. From His heavenly throne, he saw them tossed to and fro on the angry waves of sin and death, and knowing they were hopeless wrecks, unable to save themselves, and that soon they would sink beneath the angry waves and be eternally lost, He, the Lord of life and glory, came down to save. Passing into the surging waters of death, He could exclaim, “All Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over Me.” He came just where they were, stretched out His mighty arm to rescue, lifted them from the tempest, and put them in His own place of eternal safety. Not for angels, not for His friends, but, oh wondrous love, for His enemies! Well might they say, “We love Him, because He first loved us, gave Himself, and died for us.”
You, dear unsaved one, are going down, perishing in the waters of sin. You may not realize it, yet it is true, that if you do not have Christ you are drifting on, to eternal death.
See, the unwreckable lifeboat of salvation draws near, a hand is stretched forth to rescue you. It is the almighty hand of the Saviour, and if you cry with all earnest “Lord, save me, or I perish,” you be caught in that all-powerful grasp and saved with an everlasting salvation.
Millions have been rescued, who are now safely landed in the haven of rest, and thousands more are living to testify to the reality of their deliverance.
Brave Alex Russell died for on the Lord Jesus died for all. Al was but a man; Jesus was God manifest in the flesh... One was but human love; the other was almighty divine love. And this love God desires to confer upon you. Avail yourself of it by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ —
“Who died on the tree,
And wrought a salvation,
O sinner, for thee!”
ML-07/26/1970