THE CHURCH IN THE LAST DAYS

                               By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

JESUS' Great Commission has been routinely held as the Church's Marching Orders for the past 2,000 years. He issued it to His disciples and followers shortly before His ascension to His Father's Throne in Heaven. It is recorded in the Gospels of both Matthew and Mark and alluded to in the Book of Acts, as well.

He said: “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned. And these Signs shall follow them that believe; In My Name shall they cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents and if they shall drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them. They shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover.” (Mark 16: 15-20)

The commands as well as the promises of Jesus have been etched in the minds and hearts of His servants down through the centuries, as the disciples of Jesus Christ have been led by the Blessed Holy Spirit to make Him known around the world, by preaching His unadulterated Word and praying in His all-powerful Name!

Without doubt, His followers took Him and His commands seriously which is proven by the historical fact that every writer of the New Testament with the exception of John the Beloved, died as martyrs for Jesus Christ! They went to their deaths with the knowledge that they were glorifying God through their preaching as well as martyrdom.

MARTYRS FOR JESUS CHRIST!

STEPHEN was mightily used by God, but was accused of heresy by Jerusalem's Religious Council and put to death by stoning. The Bible says: “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.” (Acts 6: 8). After Stephen delivered a great sermon about God's dealings with Israel and accused them of crucifying their own Messiah, the Chief Priests went ballistic.

“When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth, but he being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into Heaven, and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And said, Behold I see the Heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried with one voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord. And cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their stones at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

“And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7: 54-60)

When the Holy Spirit fell upon the 120 in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, the Church of the Living God was born, and thousands were saved, healed and filled with the Holy Spirit. They were accused: “Did we not straightly command you that ye should not teach in this name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 

"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up JESUS Whom you slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, Whom God hath given to those who obey Him.” (Acts 5: 28-32)

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

The Holy Spirit worked with the disciples as they went to the Gentiles with Christ's Gospel. The pagans said: “These men who have turned the world upside down, have come here also.” (Acts 17:6). When Saul of Tarsus met Jesus on the Damascus Road, he fell to the earth. His eyes were burned from the LIGHT which shone around him and was blind for three days.

Lying in the dust he heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Saul Saul, why persecutest thou Me?” He cried out: “Who art Thou, Lord?” Jesus answered: “I am Jesus Whom thou persecutest.” Saul asked two very important questions: “Who are You, Lord?” and, “What do You want me to do?” These are the two most important questions everyone should ask the Lord!

In his Pentecostal message, St. Peter said: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the Times of Refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you, Whom the Heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3:19-21)

THE TIMES OF REFRESHING!

The “times of refreshing” which the apostle declared would come before Christ's return, most definitely refers to times of seeking God. There have been numerous seasons that God has stirred His people to repent and seek His face during the past two millennium. Revivals of righteousness must continue until the Church is revived, believes the Word of God, and puts into practice the commands of Jesus!

Repentance of sin and genuine CONVERSION must occur in an individual's life before his sins are blotted out. If there is no change in the life of sinners, even if they begin attending church, does not amount to a revival. A genuine Refreshing from ABOVE entails heartfelt remorse for offending Him by an impure lifestyle, unbelief, pride and rejecting the forgiveness He offers through the vicarious death of His Son Jesus Christ!

We need go no further back in the history of the backsliding church than the opposition by large denominations of so-called Christian churches to the March 3-5, 2017 Vancouver, B.C. Franklin Graham Crusade. Why did those 'Yes-Men' denounce Franklin Graham, who is a  man of God seeking to turn lost and dying souls to the Saviour Jesus Christ?

They were offended because Graham was against the sins of Sexual Perversion, Abortion, and by calling the Muslim political/religion inherently evil. And since when is it wrong to preach the Gospel and tell the truth?

MARTIN LUTHER, the great Reformer stated: “If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the Word of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Him. Where the battle rages there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battle front besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.”

If they can't stomach the preaching of Franklin Graham, how could they handle the much more powerful preaching of Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, Simon Peter, Stephen, St. Paul, Martin Luther, John Knox, John Wesley, William Booth and Charles Finney?

WHY REVIVAL TARRIES!

There are some reasons why more of the mighty works of God are not manifested in this generation, even though Almighty God has promised in His Word to work in and through us for that purpose.

1. Because the Church is no longer tarrying before the Lord in fervent prayer, for God's love and healing to be activated in people's lives. The prayer room has been exchanged for the TV and Lunchroom. And the holy altar waits for the sweet smell of hot tears from supplicants, desperate for God to save their friends and loved ones!

Just before ascending to Heaven, the Crucified and Resurrected Lord, said: “And behold, I send the promise of the Father upon you, but Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem Until ye be endued with Power from on High.” (Luke 24: 45-49)

“But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be Witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

The Key Revival Scripture quoted since time immemorial, has very seldom been put into practice. Preaching without practice is called Hypocrisy. The Lord states: “If My people which are called by My Name, shall HUMBLE themselves, and PRAY, and SEEK My face, and TURN from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven, and will FORGIVE their sin and will HEAL their land.” (2 Chron.7:14)

Jesus promised: “And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it. If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter that He may abide with you forever;

“Even the Spirit of Truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.” (John 14: 14-18)

The nearest place to the heart of God is the place of worship, repentance and faith. The Holy Bible abounds with testimonies of people who came to the end of themselves and cried out to the Lord and received forgiveness, healing and deliverance!

PRAYER BRINGS US INTO GOD'S PRESENCE

The shed blood of Jesus Christ makes it possible for fallen man to enter into the 'Holy of Holies', the very Presence of Almighty God! Prayer is the channel through which we make contact with our Heavenly Father, in the Name of Jesus Christ!

Our Lord stated: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with Me,” (Rev. 3: 20)

Dr. Ole Hallesby, founder of Norway's Independent Theological Seminary (1931) stated: “I doubt that I know of a passage in the whole Bible which throws greater light upon prayer than this one does. It is, it seems to me, the key which opens the door into the holy and blessed realm of prayer.

“To pray is to let Jesus into our hearts. This teaches us, in the first place that it is not our prayer which moves the Lord Jesus. It is Jesus who moves us to pray. He knocks. Thereby He makes known to us His desire to come in to us. Our prayers are always a result of Jesus' knocking at our hearts' doors. This throws new light upon the old prophetic passages: “Before they call. I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” (Is.65: 24)

I have often used that Scripture text as an invitation for sinners to open their hearts to the Saviour. Dr. Hallesby, however, reveals the heart of Jesus longing to spend time with His children. “Open your heart to me”, He says. “I want to sup with you. I want to have fellowship with you.”

PRAYER is the way to fellowship with Jesus! “Come and dine”, He called to the disciples who had fished all night and “taken nothing.” There are times we also may feel as though we have failed the Lord. Then we cry unto Him and are refreshed once more in His presence.

The Bible says: “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalms 16:11). The place of prayer has been nearly abandoned by most Christians and replaced by a place of fellowship and other activities.

Dr. Andrew Murray wrote: “It is in Prayer that promises have their fulfillment, the Kingdom for its coming and the glory of God for its full revelation. How quickly we are deceived into resting in the form of prayer, while the power is missing.

“Our early training, the teaching of the church, the influence of habit, the stirring of the emotions, any of these can lead to prayer that has virtually no spiritual power to be taught true prayer – that which takes hold of God's strength and to which the Gates of Heaven are opened wide.”

2. Because the Church is not eagerly awaiting and longing for Christ's Return, and is delinquent in disobeying His urgent call to prepare ourselves for that earth shaking event!

The Word of God says: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall APPEAR we shall be like Him: for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:1-2)

Jesus said: “And this gospel shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come...For as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the COMING of the Lord be.

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels in Heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken and the other left. Two shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your doth come...Therefore be ye also READY: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matt. 24: 14,27,36-42, 44)

“Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, LOOKING for that blessed Hope, and the glorious APPEARING of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us...” (Titus 2: 12-14)

SERVING GOD WHILE WAITING!

“For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come and will NOT tarry.” (Heb.10: 37); “For they themselves show us...how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to WAIT for His Son from Heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thes.1: 9,10)

JESUS promised that He would return: “Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's House are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. I will not leave comfortless; I will come to you.” (John 14: 1-3,18)

“And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you,” (John 16: 22); “And now little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at His Coming.” (1 John 2:28)

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall do: but we know that, when He shall APPEAR, we shall be like Him: for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure. (1 John 3:3,4)

“And when the Chief Shepherd shall APPEAR, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away,”(1 Peter 5: 4); “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our life, shall APPEAR, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.” (Col.3: 4)

“Behold, I show you a MYSTERY; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Cor. 15: 51,52)

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that LOOK for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Heb.9: 28).

The first time Jesus came, it was as the sin bearer, as God's Paschal Lamb and our Substitute to put away sin forever through His vicarious death for us all. The next time He comes, it will be as the glorified Reigning King!

Here is the KEY – Unto them that LOOK for Him and are waiting patiently for His return, He will abide and work His miracle power! When that happens Revival fires will burn again in the Church!

3. Because the Church has become LUKEWARM in its love for our Saviour and is in grave danger! There is nothing more dangerous than having only a little oil in our lamp and feeling that we are safe. We must keep our lights burning brightly for Christ continually!

JESUS warned: “Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

“While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at MIDNIGHT there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

“But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And when they went to buy, the bridegroom came and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut.

“Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily, I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” (Matt. 25: 1-13)

BECAUSE THOU ART LUKEWARM!

Appearing to St. John in a blinding light, JESUS warned: “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. So then because thou art LUKEWARM, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, be zealous therefore and REPENT.” (Rev. 3: 14-19)

Out of the seven churches our Lord addressed on Patmos, five were commanded to Repent or Else! The Laodicean church which mirrors many of the churches of today was singled out as needing a strong revival of repentance and righteousness. May Almighty God have mercy upon us all and send us a gracious REVIVAL.

4. Because the Church has taken away from the Holy Spirit the leadership of His Church, placing it into human hands. The One Whom Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, sent to lead His Church has been replaced by men like the Pope, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops and Pastors!

JESUS CHRIST stated: “And behold, I send the Promise of the Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on High.” (Luke 24: 49)

“And being assembled together with them, commanded that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the Promise of the Father, which ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1: 4, 5, 8)

“And I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may ABIDE with you FOREVER; Even the Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him: for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come unto you.” (John 14: 16, 17)

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and WE will come unto him and abide with him.” (John 14: 23).

Almighty God is One in Three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ declared that He would return together with the Father in the Person of the Holy Spirit and abide with us. If we love Jesus (verse 21) and keep His Word, the Father is obligated to love us and live within us! (John 15: 5-7; Col. 3:3; Eph. 3: 17; 4: 6)

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CHARGE!

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the COMFORTER will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.

“And when He is come, He will reprove the world of Sin, and of Righteousness, and of Judgment; Of sin, because they believe not on Me. Of righteousness, because I go unto My Father, and ye see Me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world (Satan) is judged.

“I have yet many things to tell you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all Truth; For He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak, and He will show you things to come.

“He shall glorify Me; for He shall receive of Mine and give it unto you. All things that the Father has are Mine: therefore said I, He shall take of mine, and show it unto you.” (John 15: 26; 16:13)

In 1968, God gave us amazing Gospel crusades in the West Indies, Norway and Newfoundland, where our Saviour poured out His Spirit in an extra ordinary way resulting in thousands of souls being saved, many filled with the Holy Spirit and a number of notable miracles. Our crusades across Norway lasted 3 1/2 months with newspapers writing about the amazing Move of God in that nation.

During our Crusade at the F.G. Bursey Memorial Tabernacle, near Lewisporte I was invited to go on their Radio Network across Newfoundland. During the interview their leading Radio announcer began to tear-up. I realized what was happening and asked, “Are you a backslider? He said, “Yes. Would you please speak for ten minutes on the greatest MISTAKE the Church has made in the last 2,000 years.”

Immediately God gave me answer. I said, “The Greatest Mistake the Church has Made since it inception is two fold. Number one: The Church has taken the authority and leadership out of the hands of the Holy Spirit and put that authority into human hands. Instead of the Blessed Holy Spirit of God leading the church, men like the Pope, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops and Pastors are leading the Church.

“And number two: The Church has rejected the authority of the Word which the Holy Spirit has anointed, the Holy Bible!

I had the privilege of praying with the announcer and for the listeners. After signing off, the announcer and I were walking toward the front desk when I noticed two men walking quickly toward us. I thought possibly they were going to 'ball me out' for causing their announcer to become emotional, but they were as happy as could be. They said, “All the telephone lines are jammed. More than 70,000 people are listening. We have a TV Station across the street, please go over there and do the same thing.”

In 1987, Donna and I were invited to the First Pentecostal Conference of Latin American in Sao Paulo, Brazil. There were six of us preaching at the 35,000 seat stadium. The theme of the Convention was, 'The Holy Spirit in the World'. Earlier, Newsweek Magazine's cover stated: '...LATIN AMERICA PREDOMINANTLY CARDINAL RED, TURNING PROTESTANT BLACK.'

The large article stated that every hour 400 people were converting from the Roman Catholic to the Evangelical Faith. In my column for the Edmonton Sun that week, I wrote: “The Roman Catholic Church believes that the Pope is the Vicar or vice Christ of the Church and in that position is in charge of the Church. I'm sorry, Pope John Paul 11, I did not know that the Holy Spirit had taken Early Retirement.”

5. Because the Church has forgotten the words of Jesus Christ's Great Commission and have lost the burden for the unsaved. The Church has grown listless in this late hour and needs a massive revival and refreshing to right the ship and return to being a people of “called out ones from the world”; the soul winning Church!

The Great Evangelist, D.L. Moody stated: “Shame on the Christianity of the 19th Century. It is a weak and sickly thing. Would to God that we had a few men like Daniel living here today.”

VANCE HAVNER the powerful Baptist Preacher, stated: “Many years ago in Scotland in a certain community the fires had all gone out. They searched everywhere to see if anyone had fire. Finally they found a humble house where the hearth stone glowed with a cheery flame. Soon they were carrying coals here and there to replenish their own blackened fire places. 

"Today, there are weary hearts, discouraged souls, needy churches looking for a soul with fire, someone kept agloinspite of the world, flesh and the Devil.”

Robert Murray Mcheyne said: “Men return again and again to the few who have mastered the spiritual secret, whose life has been hid with Christ in God. These are of the Old Time Religion, hung to the nails of the cross.” LEONARD RAVENHILL stated: “The greatest tragedy is a sick church in a dying world.”

The Bible says: “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

HARVEST IS TRULY PLENTEOUS!

“Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest, that He will send forth more labourers into His harvest.” (Matt. 9: 35-38)

The Bible says: “Be patient therefore, unto the Coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the PRECIOUS FRUIT of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and the latter rain. Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the COMING of the Lord draweth nigh.” (James 5: 7, 8)

We are asked to be patient with a long patience and not give up, throw in the towel or stop in our quest for souls. The work of sowing and reaping must continue. We cannot, must not and will not stop until our Lord returns. He is counting on us to finish the work He began so long ago at such a tremendous cost!

The Bible states: “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God the Father.” (Gal.1: 3, 4)

“But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justifications.” (Rom, 4: 24, 25)

“For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver and gold but with the precious BLOOD of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish or without spot, Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world. But was manifest in these last times for you. Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory, that your faith and your hope might be in God.” (1 Peter 1: 18-21).

JESUS said: “Say not ye, There are yet for months and then cometh Harvest, Behold I say unto you, Lift up your eyes and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he hat soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” (John 4: 35, 36)

THE NIGHT COMETH

“I must work the works of Him Who sent Me (Father in Heaven) while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the LIGHT of the world.” (John 9: 4, 5)

DR. CALVIN MILLER wrote: "Missions is a divine madness that hears the voice of God's only begotten, crying from a mountaintop, into all the world (Matt. 28:18-20). It takes this cry to bed and pillow every night. It wakes at every dawn, as Christ whispers in the heart,

"I was dead, but look--I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades. You must arise for I have come to seek and to save that which was lost. There is no time to waste, the world is loved and doesn't know it.”

JOHN HARPER'S LAST CONVERT!

RMS Titanic with 2,224 passengers and crew aboard on it's maiden journey from Southampton to New York City, sank in the North Atlantic Ocean at about 2 AM April 15, 1912. Four days after their launch they struck a massive ice berg and sank a couple hours later. Some were so sure they would be rescued and refused to get into the life boats, so many left less than filled.

There were only enough lifeboats for half of those aboard. Between 1490 and 1635 perished. They had received 6 warnings of sea ice on April 14, but the owner refused to slow down or take a longer and safer route. They wanted to set a record. The Owner stated that nothing could sink the Titanic and the builder had boasted, “Not even God could sink that ship!”

A Baptist preacher John Harper gave his life jacket to an unsaved person and had the band play 'Nearer my God to Thee'. Harper carried his little daughter to the life boat and kissed her goodbye. He went about urging people to pray and call upon the Lord. He said, “Let the women, children and the unsaved into the boats.”

When the ship went down he found himself in the freezing water holding on to a piece of the wreckage. People were crying, praying and screaming all around. He noticed a young man near him and shouted: “Young man, are you saved?” He answered, “No.” The preacher shouted, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” A wave came and carried him away.

A few minutes later, he saw the young man near him again and he shouted: “Are you saved now?” The young man answered, “Not yet.” John Harper shouted, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” And then, the young man saw the preacher's hands lose their grip and slide down into the water.

A couple weeks later, a young man rose to his feet in a Gospel meeting in New York City to give his testimony. He recounted what I have just written. In closing he said, “I am that young man and I'm here to tell you that with several miles of water under me I believed and I'm here to tell you that I am John Harper's Last Convert.”

Remember, Jesus Christ said: “Come unto Me a ye who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11: 28); “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6: 37).

Max Solbrekken World Mission Box 44220 RPO Garside, AB T5V 1N6. Email: [email protected]; comehometojesus.ca; FaceBook; Youtube. Donations can be made by e-Transfer. Make donations to [email protected]. May God bless you!