“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction!But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.”
— 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NLT)

John Harper, a Scottish pastor, boarded the famous RMS Titanic to preach in Moody’s Church in Chicago.
He was accompanied by his six-year-old daughter and his sister.
On April 15, 1912, the majestic ship hit an iceberg and began to sink, as we all are aware. Pastor Harper had just put his daughter to bed when he saw people running to survive. He quickly wrapped his daughter in a blanket and handed her over to the crew to be placed in lifeboat number 11.
Witnesses saw him praying and preaching on his knees, calling out for souls to believe in Jesus Christ and be saved. He later sank beneath the icy water, still preaching the good news—even in that moment of tragedy.
Five years later, when there was a gathering of the Titanic survivors, one man stood up and said that he was the last convert of Pastor Harper.
He shared that Pastor Harper had asked him, “Are you saved?” The man replied, “No.” Pastor Harper then handed him his own life jacket and shared the good news: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”
Later, the man saw Pastor Harper holding on to a piece of wreckage, using what little strength he had left to preach the message of salvation for almost an hour—lifting up the name of Jesus before he sank.
Until his last breath, as Jesus asked us, he preached the gospel to the perishing souls. He knew that his final stop would be with Jesus, and his dying desire was to share that assurance with lost and hopeless hearts.
Death did not scare him—he faced it with courage and faith.
For many, what Pastor Harper did in that panicking environment might have looked foolish. But the Bible says:
“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction,but to us who are being saved, it is the very power of God.”— 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NLT)
The greatest opposition in this world is against the message of the cross, and the most severe persecution—even unto death—is faced by those who carry the gospel.
Many have been beheaded, stripped naked, beaten, burned alive, thrown into hot oil, lost their families, possessions, names, and reputation—yet they still considered it worth saving at least one single soul for eternity.
Death or the threat of death never stopped those zealous servants from sharing the gospel. For them, losing was gain for Jesus.
None of those who died for the gift of salvation were forced to lose their lives; they did it out of the joy of the Lord—to let others taste the goodness of God through Jesus Christ.
Those who received Jesus Christ and were ready to die for Him knew that every soul is precious and deserves eternal life.
They knew it was worth dying because Jesus Himself found us worth dying for.
The greatest gift you can offer anyone is Jesus Christ.
Pray for your loved ones to be saved, and preach the gospel—for it is the will of God.
If Pastor Harper could share the love of Christ while dying in that dark, freezing, ice-cold water—leaving his daughter an orphan—then you can also share the gospel sitting in your cozy, comfortable environment.
Every soul is worth being saved, just like yours.
Don’t waste any more time, for you never know—someone might be that last soul God wants to reach through you.
Above all, The Word of God brings encouragement to the lost and hopeless, reminding us that the gospel is the power of God. Believe in Jesus and be saved. You are worth the price He paid.
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Thank You for the power of the cross and for the salvation You freely gave.Let Your compassion burn within me, and may every word I speak draw someone closer to You.
In Your precious name,
Amen.








