One of the most horrific events of the Civil War took place in the early morning hours of April 27, 1865. The Sultana steamboat, slowly chugging northward on the Mississippi River, was carrying some 2400 passengers, most of which were Union soldiers who had been released from prison camps, including the notorious Andersonville Prison.
The steamboat was overcrowded as she slowly made her way up the river when disaster struck near Mound City, Arkansas. At 2am two of the three boilers on board exploded, immediately killing hundreds, others either jumped or were thrown into the chilly water by the blast. 1800 of the 2400 on the Sultana perished during that awful night. Many of those who survived the blast jumped in the river to swim to shore, but most never made it as a result of their weakened bodies worn down by months in prison camps. Others clung to pieces of the steamboat in hopes of being rescued.
The horrific blast could be heard for miles, awakening those in the nearby town. Even though the townspeople were Confederate sympathizers they immediately went to work in an effort to save those in the water. They tied logs together, pieces of board, whatever they could find, and one by one pulled as many as they could out of the river. It didn’t matter what color uniform they wore, what cause they were fighting for, or the color of their skin. They were men who were dying and needed to be rescued, and so they did.
It’s easy for as Christians to get caught up in the political, social, and economic fights that are currently going on in our country. However, there are lost souls all around us that need rescuing. It really doesn’t matter who or what your neighbor believes in, or your co-worker, or anyone else for that matter. If they don’t know Jesus Christ, they need rescuing now! Jump in and save them by sharing the love of Jesus with them!
“Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.” -Fanny Crosby
Tell someone about Jesus today, pass out a tract, invite a co-worker to church. Do something to rescue the perishing before it’s too late!
“And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” (Jude 1:22-23)
“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15:10)
The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time.
— Carl F.H.Henry