IT WAS the last day of the year 1 and the ship lay at anchor off the British port. A few of the men had met weekly for prayer, and lately they had prayed earnestly for one of their crew who carried his drunkenness and recklessness beyond all limits.
Just before this sailor’s watch on the last night of the year one of his comrades said to him kindly, “Jack, we meet tonight to pray the old year out, and we shall pray for you.”
Jack turned around in a rage. “Make me a subject of your prayers, if you dare, and I’ll knock your brains out,” was his answer.
All Alone He Kept Watch
Overhead shone the stars, far away gleamed the lights of the city and still the parting words of his comrade rang in his ear. “I wonder what they’ll say,” he thought at length, after his anger had died away. “Well, if they mention all my sins they’ll have enough to keep them busy!” One scene of sin after another came up before him, scenes from which many of those who had participated with him had been called away to judgment.
Rousing himself up he tried to shake off the memories, but in vain. “We’ll pray for you,” rang in his ears.
All at once a text learned at his mother’s knee from his almost forgotten Bible came up before him. Vainly he whistled and sang and tried to think of everything else.
“O what a long list of sins I’ve got against me!” he groaned; “I can’t ever get them blotted out.” He saw himself undone and helpless. But as one of old appeared to Peter walking on the waves—the blessed Son of God—so it was across the wild waves of anguish and despair came the heavenly Comforter into the heart of this poor sinful sailor, sang, “Be not afraid; only believe.” All upon his knees he believed on the Lord Jesus Christ that night and was gloriously saved.
Jack heard the far off city bells toll out the dying of the old year, and merrily chime in the advent of the new, and a “new creature in Christ Jesus,” Jack arose from his knees and grasping the hand of his comrade who came to relieve him, said with a tearful voice, “Ed, I’m a new man in Christ Jesus.”
Jack’s conversion was indeed sincere. God’s Spirit perfected the good work begun in him; and as he contemplated the awful pit from which he had been snatched, he could not sufficiently admire the greatness and goodness of God. He was unwearied in his efforts to show his late companions of the folly of their ways; and more than one had reason to hold in grateful memory Jack’s new year.
Will you also believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be made new?
ML-02/13/1972