I was serving on the S.S. Kirk-pool in the year 1942, when World War II was at the height of its fury. We had a cargo of coal aboard when leaving Durban, South Africa, and we sailed for the South American port of Montevideo, but we were destined not to reach our desired haven.
Ten days out we were walleyed by a powerful German raider, torpedoed, and heavily shelled. It was an awful nightmare. Within twenty minutes the Kirkpool was a floating wreck, tossed and rolled in the surging sea, like some great monster in its death struggles. Her bridge was in flames, and our lifeboats had been mercilessly blasted away.
It was on this same night, after the ghastly shelling had ceased, away on the fore part of the sinking ship, while the great seas lashed over her, I knelt down before my Maker and called on Him to deliver our little band of survivors from their awful peril. This was the first time I had ever really called upon God from my heart.
Captives!
We were forced to take wooden hatchboards and lash them together to form very crude and frail rafts. On these we took to the shark-infested water, and after floating around for some time, we were picked up by the raider. Here we were kept on board as prisoners for 24 days before being transferred to another supply ship. On this ship, several hundred British seen were held captive.
God’s ways are past all human understanding. Physically, our plight was extreme, but it was on this very ship, in such circumstances, that I learned the message of love which brought my salvation. I heard that the Lord Jesus Christ had died for me on Calvary’s cross. I learned that there was forgiveness of sins for me, if only I would believe on Him and seek the shelter of His atoning blood which was so freely shed for me. I trusted Him then and there, and have since found Him to be an all-sufficient Saviour.
God’s Power and Love
Even in a prison camp I proved His love and keeping power, so that on being released, after three and one-half years, I was still praising God.
Before Christ came into my heart, my life could be summed up in two words, “Desperately wicked"(Jer. 17:99The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)). My past sins I haven’t mentioned, but God—praise His Name—has put them from Him, “as far as the east is from the west” (Psa. 103:1212As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12)), for Jesus died for sinners like me.
He can and will do the same for you, dear reader, if you will respond to His loving invitation, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28). A.C.R.
ML-11/04/1979