This Precious Life

The greatest ship of its day, weighing 46,000 tons, the Titanic was considered unsinkable. But on the night of 14 April 1912, while moving through the ocean at 22 knots, it struck an iceberg. Because it carried only half as many life jackets as passengers, when it sank 1,513 people drowned. Even though this event occurred more than seventy years ago, there is still a great fascination about it. The recent discovery of the hulk of the Titanic has revived our interest in the whole tragic story.

Out of the tragedy, however, God can still bring triumph.

One passenger, John Harper, was on his way to preach at Moody Church in Chicago. Trying to stay afloat in the ocean he drifted toward a young man holding onto a plank. Harper asked, “Young man, are you saved?” The man said, “No.” A wave separated them. After a few minutes they drifted within speaking distance of each other, and again Harper called to him, “Have you made your peace with God?” The young man said, “Not yet.” A wave overwhelmed John Harper and he was seen no more, but the words, “Are you saved?” kept ringing in the young man’s ears.

Two weeks later, a youth stood up in a Christian Endeavor meeting in New York, told his story and said, “I am John Harper’s last covert.”

From Angels: God’s Secret Agents

We have no time to waste.