POWER BLOG

Link: http://pofm.org

The sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912, has always held a kind of morbid fascination for me. Both the victims and the survivors were totally isolated and alone, although they were surrounded by literally hundereds of other people.

The horror of watching this mammoth ship, larger than most buildings of that day, slowly sink into the ocean and disapear, could only be equaled by hearing the deafening screams and pleas for help that turned into dead silence in a matter of minutes.

Out of this one terrible tragedy, came several smaller stories of heroic bravery. One such story, is the story of a Scotish gentleman named John Harper, a passenger.

John Harper was not only a Baptist Minister, he was a true hero in the deepest meaning of the word. When it was well apparent that the ship was going to sink, he took his six year old daughter "Nana", and put her in a lifeboat. Instead of getting in the lifeboat himself, he did something truly amazing. He kissed her goodbye.

As the rear of the huge ship began to lurch upwards, it was reported that Harper was seen making his way up the deck yelling, "Women, children and unsaved into the lifeboats!" It was only minutes later that the Titanic began to rumble deep within. Most people thought it was an explosion; actually the gargantuan ship was literally breaking in half. At this point, many people jumped off the decks and into the icy, dark waters below. John Harper was one of these people.

That night 1528 people went into the frigid waters. John Harper was seen swimming frantically to people in the water leading them to Jesus before the hypothermia became fatal. Mr. Harper swam up to one young man who had climbed up on a piece of debris. Rev. Harper asked him between breaths, "Are you saved?" The young man replied that he was not.

Harper then tried to lead him to Christ only to have the young man who was near shock, reply no. John Harper then took off his life jacket and threw it to the man and said, "Here then, you need this more than I do..." and swam away to other people. A few minutes later Harper swam back to the young man and succeeded in leading him to salvation. Of the 1528 people that went into the water that night, six were rescued by the lifeboats. One of them was this young man on the debris.

Four years later, at a survivors meeting, this young man stood up and in tears recounted how that after John Harper had led him to Christ. Mr. Harper had tried to swim back to help other people,yet because of the intense cold, had grown too weak to swim. His last words before going under in the frigid waters were, "Believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus and you will be saved."

Does Hollywood remember this man? No. Oh well, no matter. This servant of God did what he had to do. While other people were trying to buy their way onto the lifeboats and selfishly trying to save their own lives, John Harper gave up his life so that others could be saved.

So, is it refreshing to read a story about someone with "True Conviction" I found it quite refreshing. Especially after watching the political candidates. Each one of them grasping Christianity, but only as a tool to further their own selfish political agendas.

Especially sad when comparing them to a "True Servant of God". Especially when one of the candidates, although raised a practicing Muslim (according to his school records, and his own family) denies it and claims to be a Christian.

"You can fool millions of people, but the shepard knows his own sheep, and the sheep know the shepards voice"

God is no Fool!

Excerpts taken from: http://www.blessedquietness.com/journal/housechu/harper.htm