"TAKE HER DOWN!"

It was February, 1943. It was during a terrible time in the world's history called World War II. Nations were at war and soldiers and sailors were being killed.

An American submarine, the USS Growler was on patrol in the Pacific Ocean. Its skipper was Howard W. Gilmore, a 40 year-old Navy man.

On February 7th, the submarine was up on the surface and was tracking an enemy ship. It was closing in on a merchant ship which usually was not heavily armed. But in this case, the ship was heavily armed and turned on the sub. Gilmore and four crewmen were in the conning tower. He was able to skillfully maneuver his ship and ram the enemy vessel.

But then machine gun fire began coming from the merchant ship. Two crewmen dropped, killed by fire from the enemy. The other two crewmen and Gilmore were all wounded. The crewmen were able to get to the hatch and to safety, but Gilmore couldn't make it.

The submarine could not fight on the surface of the water. It had to get beneath the water. But Gilmore was trapped. The ship came near again to blast the sub. The lives of all the men in the submarine were in danger.

It was then that Gilmore gave the order. "Take her down!" It meant that he was left outside. It meant that he would either drown or be killed by the enemy.

In that short time, the commander of the submarine had to make a tremendous decision. What was more important: His life or the lives of all his men inside? He chose to die so that others could live.

The men who survived can look back and remember a man who cared about them and did what was best for them, even though it meant he died.

The story of the gospel is even more wonderful. It tells of a Savior who loved sinners. The Lord Jesus came into the world to save those who did not love Him (1 Timothy 1:15). He gave His life at the Cross and endured God's wrath to save us (1 Peter 3:18).

The Lord Jesus spoke of Himself as the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep (John 10). In our Bible story, Rehoboam showed that he did not care greatly for the welfare of his people. He was going to be even harder than his father was with them. But the Lord Jesus thought so much of those who were like lost sheep that He willingly died to save us.

"All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).

- by A.J.H.

www.GospeHall.org

This page was authored by editors at "Life for Young Paths".

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