In 1940 I entered the Royal Navy and was drafted to the H. M. S. Exeter. I soon found that there was a “religious” man on board, and he offered me a little paper called “The Way of Salvation.” I took it and promised to read it.
One day when I had nothing else to do, I read the booklet and found that it contained several verses from the Bible. One verse particularly impressed me. It was 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7): “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” I soon forgot it.
Before long we were hit by a torpedo and began to sink. Three and a half hours later I was picked up by a destroyer, possibly the very one that sank our ship. My “religious” shipmate was taken prisoner at the same time.
Soon we were taken to a prison camp. Many of the men died there. One night I was afraid to go to sleep; tired and weak, I was afraid that I would soon meet God, and I worried about my past sins.
I went to my Christian friend and told him all about it. He took me out of the noise and confusion of our bamboo and grass hut, and under the open tropical sky, lit with moon and stars, spoke of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He said, “Believe God and what He says in His Word. ‘The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.’” It was the same verse I had read and remembered!
I went down on my knees, claimed the forgiveness God promised to repentant sinners, and received the Lord Jesus Christ as my own Savior. The joy that followed was inexpressible-His presence made even that prison camp seem like heaven to me.
And you-have you the joy and peace that comes with believing God? The pleasures that this world offers are very fleeting and cannot be compared to what the believer in Christ Jesus has.
There are two things necessary for the salvation of your soul: the work of Christ on the cross, and your acceptance of His work. If you have not yet told the Lord Jesus that you receive Him as your Savior, do it NOW while there is still time.