The crew aboard the Japanese ship, The Lee Wang Zin, never made it into the new year, and no one may ever know why. The 30-man crew disappeared when the huge freighter, loaded with iron ire, hit a reef just off the coast of Alaska and capsized. In response to a final radio signal, a team of men was sent to attempt a rescue. When finally sighted bottom up, the ship looked like a beached whale with a red iron stomach. There was no sign of life. What about the crew? In eternity?
Since there was no sign of survivors or life rafts, the rescuers made a valiant effort to determine if any of the ship’s 30 crewmen remained alive inside the ship. With difficulty they were able to climb on to the bottom of the overturned ship. They attempted to make contact with any of the crew who might be trapped inside.
Being trapped with no possibility of escape must be a frightful experience, yet many in this world today are trapped in Satan’s bonds. Men and women, boys and girls go happily through this world without knowing that they are slaves of sin and Satan. Then suddenly they are brought face to face with death, not prepared. “Prepare to meet thy God.” (Amos 4:1212Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. (Amos 4:12)) But what of the crew? Were they still alive trapped in the hull or had they already gone into eternity?
The courageous efforts of the rescuers were in vain. “After five minutes we knew we were the only men alive on that ship” said one of them. Another rescuer dressed in diving gear was able to get into the hold of the overturned ship. His comment on surfacing was, “There are no pockets of air anywhere. There is no hope.” No hope! What a solemn statement. For the lives of the 30 crewmen there was no hope. The life rafts fully supplied were present but they had not been used. “The whole thing is strange, very strange,” said Lt. Ensley of the Coast Guard. “I doubt we will ever know what happened to doom her.”
For the 30 souls of the Lee Wang Zin it is now too late. They have passed from this world into eternity. Only God knows whether they are with Christ in glory or are in a lost eternity with “no hope.” If you had been one of the crew of the Lee Wang Zin, where would your soul be now? God’s word says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2).) It also tells us to “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).) Believe in Him now, accept Him as your own personal Saviour and have full assurance of sins forgiven according to His precious word.
ML-04/13/1980