By John Stenen The man was an ungodly reprobate, foul-mouthed, and he spent lots of time cursing God. He was a lost, miserable man without hope. He had signed onto the ship for another long voyage and as he climbed up the gangplank carrying his large seabag, another sailor jostled him and he fell into the water between the wharf and the ship. His last words just before going under were a horrible curse to the man who bumped him.
After some time, he was rescued from under the boat, apparently drowned. They worked to resuscitate him and were finally successful. With his first breath he cried out, “Praise the Lord I’m saved!” “Yes,” said a man nearby, “You almost didn’t make it.” “I don’t mean saved from drowning, I mean saved inside. The Lord has taken all my sin away and has forgiven me.” He then told them when he found himself under the boat, he thought the end had come.
In those few seconds, he saw himself kneeling by his mother’s side and heard her prayers for him. His sin, as a high mountain rose before him and he cried out to God to save him. In that moment he realized forgiveness and the cleansing of the blood of Christ. It was for this that he praised God with his first breath.
Time continues to run out for all of us. Death can come so quickly, and without Christ - there is no hope; if you are not saved when you die, you will forever be lost; there is no second chance after this life is over. The apostle Paul said in Romans 10:13, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
