photo #9179858

"WHO IS HE THAT WILL HARM YOU?" "And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" (1 Peter 3:13)On Christmas Eve, in 1875, Ira Sankey was traveling on a steamer in the Delaware River. He was at the height of his music ministry and was immediately recognized by some of the people on board. They had seen his picture in the newspaper and knew he was associated with D. L. Moody as the song leader and soloist in many of Moody's evangelistic crusades. When he was asked to sing one of his own compositions, Sankey said he preferred the hymn by William Bradbury, "Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us." He suggested that everyone join in the singing. The second stanza begins, "We are Thine; do Thou befriend us, Be the Guardian of our way."After he finished, a man stepped out of the shadows and inquired, "Were you in the army, Mr. Sankey?"Sankey replied, "Yes, I joined up in 1860.""Do you remember if you were doing picket duty on a bright, moonlit night in 1862?” "Yes," Mr. Sankey answered, very much surprised."So do I, but I was serving in the Confederate army. When I saw you standing at your post in Sharpsburg, I thought to myself, 'That fellow will never get away alive.' I raised my musket and took aim. I was standing in the shadow, completely concealed, while the full light of the moon was falling upon you. At that instant, just as a moment ago, you raised your eyes to Heaven and began to sing. 'Let him sing his song to the end,' I said to myself, 'I can shoot him afterwards. He’s my victim, and my bullet cannot miss him.'"The song you sang back then was the same song you sang just now. I heard the words perfectly: 'We are Thine; do Thou befriend us, Be the Guardian of our way.' Those words stirred up many memories. I began to think of my childhood and my God-fearing mother. She had many times sung that song to me. When you had finished your song that night, it was impossible for me to take aim again. I thought, 'The Lord who is able to save that man from certain death must surely be great and mighty.' And my arm of its own accord dropped limp at my side."Friends, there's no doubt about God's presence in our lives. Not only did our Great Saviour purchase us with His own blood, He protects us with His blessed promises.