The submarine, “Komsomolets,” was on fire. The men on board were fighting the spreading fire, but in the thick smoke they were losing the fight.
It was April, 1989, and the Norwegian Sea, which usually hid the spying Soviet submarine from the American fleet, was now a raging enemy. With flames spreading through the various compartments, the burning submarine surfaced to struggle with an added problem-the cold, choppy sea with its growing waves and blowing snow flurries. There could be no doubt... these men needed to be saved. But who could rescue them?
The SOS signals sent out to Soviet navy headquarters were distorted and unclear. The admiral in Moscow knew something, somewhere was wrong. But who, and where?
This story makes me so thankful for a little verse in Hebrews 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25), “He is able... to save.” God is able to save because He knows not only what our trouble is, but He knows who we are and where we are. Our cries to Him are never distorted or unclear! Psalm 34:1515The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. (Psalm 34:15) assures us, “His ears are open unto their cry.”
But these poor men were crying for help and there was no ear to hear, until an hour later. Quickly a patrol plane was sent out and several navy ships headed out to direct rescue operations, but they were all 500 miles away.
Help was needed NOW, not LATER. Could it be any comfort to know help would arrive, but too late? How glad I am that our verse says, “He is able... to save.” He is able because He is close to each of us. Isaiah 38:2020The Lord was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the Lord. (Isaiah 38:20) says, “The Lord was ready to save me.” Paul says in Acts 17:2727That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: (Acts 17:27), “Though He be not far from every one of us.” He is not 500 miles or even one mile away when we need Him.
As the fire burned through the hull, the submarine began to settle in the sea, stern down and bow up. The men realized they didn’t have time to wait for help to come.
Strong winds blew the first inflated life raft overboard. Some of the men swam through the icy water to get on the upside down raft. The only other life raft was swept too far away for any of the exhausted crew to swim to. That left nearly 50 men trying to get on one life raft built to hold only 25. How sad it must have been for any man in the water to look at the raft which could save some lives and realize there was no room for him.
How different it is for any who call on the Lord Jesus. He is not only able to save from eternal death, but He says in His parable of the great supper, “Yet there is room.” We also read in John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16), “Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish.” The word “whosoever” means you, me or anyone else, and it certainly means He has room for all.
While some of the burned and half-frozen men were hanging on to the half-submerged life raft, six other men were still trying to get out of the sinking submarine. Five were able to get into the escape capsule, but as they closed and sealed the door they heard a knock. Another man was alive and wanted to get in. But the door was sealed, and they were unable to open it in time. The submarine walls were breaking and water pouring in swept the man away.
We’ve all had the experience of standing and knocking outside a closed door. Thankfully, most doors open in answer to our knock. The Lord Jesus is able to save because He, too, is an “open door.” “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” John 10:99I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9). Sadly, even this door must close some day. Now is still the day of salvation, and the door is still open. We read of those who began to stand outside and knock (Luke 13:2525When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: (Luke 13:25)). But they came too late! Some people don’t think that accepting Christ as their Saviour is an urgent matter. They feel another day will do. But Jesus says, “Be ye also ready.” Matthew 24:4444Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 24:44).
The escape capsule with the five men in it at first would not break loose from the submarine. After the depth gauge needle went off the scale at 1300 feet, an explosion knocked the capsule free. When it bobbed to the surface the pressure inside blew the door off. The capsule quickly filled with water. One man was saved. The others, including the commander of the submarine, were lost.
In the icy water men were hanging on to the life raft with their hands or teeth. As an hour passed while waiting for help to arrive, two dozen of the men could no longer hold on. They let go of the raft and perished in their helplessness. Finally, a fishing boat arrived and picked up the 29 men still alive.
Another 40 men could have been saved if help had been closer. But help was closer! If the Russian submarine had only called on nearby Norway for help, most of the men would have been saved! Since the submarine was a new high-tech type, the Soviet navy did not want Norway to see it. Because they wanted to keep their submarine a secret, they refused to ask for nearby help. That may seem foolish to you, but may I ask you, What reason is keeping you from calling on Jesus Christ for salvation? As a sinner you are lost in your sins and about to perish, but Jesus Christ died on the cross for you. Because of that, He is nearby, ready and able to save you! Just call.
“I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.”
ML-01/27/1991