Many years ago a ship with many passengers aboard left Stockholm, Sweden, bound for Scotland, which is about 800 miles away. No doubt those on board were looking forward to the time when they would see their loved ones again, fearing no danger on the trip home.
Before long, the coast of Scotland could be seen in the distance, but all at once a storm broke, dashing the ship to pieces on the rocks. All those on board were lost except the cabin boy, who was washed ashore on a piece of the wreck.
The rescuers, searching for anyone who needed help, found the cabin boy. They noticed he had something tied around his waist in a handkerchief.
Was it the ship’s papers or some other valuable article? No, it contained a small pocket Bible which he treasured. The sacred volume had been given to him by his Christian father, who had written a prayer on the flyleaf that through reading the Book, his boy might find Christ as his Saviour, the only hope for eternity.
How abundantly the prayer was answered! When he had finished his duties on the ship, the boy had found time to read the Word of God, and at last the light of salvation broke into his dark soul, and he was saved. Now God had saved his life too, that he might witness to others concerning his wonderful Saviour.
No doubt there are some of you reading this story, who, like the cabin boy, have trusted the Lord Jesus as your Saviour. What a joy that is to the Lord’s heart, and His desire is that you too should tell others of His great and free salvation, just as the cabin boy was spared to witness to others of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Perhaps some of you, like the cabin boy, have been brought up in a Christian home, but have you ever come to the Lord Jesus to be saved? Your pants, Sunday school teacher, and Christian friends have prayed earnestly that someday you might trust the Lord Jesus and receive Him as your Saviour. Someday, like the cabin boy, your life may be in danger, and if you die unsaved, nothing but a lost eternity awaits you. Not to accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour is to refuse Him. You will never drift into heaven: You must accept Christ if you would be there.
ML 10/21/1956