Devotion to Duty

The picture depicts a temple scene. It is an incident in the naval battle in the North Sea. In the face of death and destruction these brave men serve their guns to the end—until the last shot is fired, and the last man lies down to die. This is how men serve their country.
Many stirring deeds of British heroism we can recall. There was the story, for instance, of the gallant man in the Northumberland Fusiliers who was charged with the mission of carrying an urgent dispatch. When within two hundred yards of his destination be was brought down by a bullet. Although he must have been suffering terribly he managed to drag himself across the intervening ground, literally fell into the dug-out, put his hand upon his breast, where the precious missive lay, feebly murmured, “It is here,” and fell back dead.
How do men serve their God today? A young soldier goes from a Christian home, as officer or private. For King George he drills and obeys and perfects himself in the soldier life; he is willing to face hardships of all kinds, and in the trenches or on the battleship he is never ashamed of the service of his King, and is at all times willing to die for his country. But what about his God and his Saviour? How often is his allegiance to Christ undermined? How many letters do I get from soldiers and sailors telling me that they were Christian lads and loved the Lord before they left home, but the camp life made them lose all their faith. They became ashamed of Christ. A young recruit in the R.N.R. writes on leaving home for the first time:” He alone doeth all things well. In Him and Him alone do I put my trust... Ah tell me more of Christ.... I want to know more.... Yes, it is well with my soul... Oh! Doctor, if ever I have been brought close to Jesus, it’s now. Write to me when you have time, and tell me more about Jesus.” Dear lad, he loves his Saviour, and is not ashamed to confess Him.
The following letter shows the reality of knowing Christ when face to face with death. It is given to me by Mr. ‘J. J. P., to whom it was sent: ―