Darryl, Fred, Bill and Bob all lived in a small town in the mountains. The had grown up together and gone to the same school. Although Fred, Bill and Bob had grown up in good Christian homes and went to church with their families every Sabbath, Darryl did not, and considered himself an Atheist. No matter how his friends tried to encourage him to give Jesus a try, he refused. They invited him to church, to evangelistic meetings, and prayer meetings, but he did not care to attend. Once in a while he attended the church picnics because he appreciated his friends and it was always nice to have a relaxing day in the park with good friends. All the church people were very friendly, but Darryl just could not get himself to believe. There were other Christian churches in town that went to church on Sundays, but Darryl did not find them as friendly.
As they grew into manhood, the four young men found themselves working for the same cargo airline company. Bob and Bill were pilots, Darryl was the on-board mechanic and Fred was the radio control engineer. They often flew supplies from the big city to their small mountain town. It was quicker than having some essential items delivered by truck. They made regular flights in good weather to pick up supplies as needed.
That day was a day like all others. The weather report said it would be a little windy, but nothing that the men had not faced before. As usual, Fred, Bill and Bob had a prayer together before taking off in their plane. Darryl watched in respectful silence. Sometimes he wished he had the calm faith and trust that his friends did, but he just could not. He saw them so happy and calm all the time, even when things went wrong. But he himself? He would often get angry and curse when things went wrong and he never felt good about it afterwards. Even his wife attended church, but Darryl kept refusing, although his conscience did bother him at times.
On that particular day, the plane took off as usual. The engines roared to life and the plane lifted easily into the sky. There were a few clouds and a bit of a wind, but the plane flew smoothly up and over the mountains. They had to cross two mountain ranges with a valley in between. As they got over the first mountain range the wind suddenly picked up. The clouds became thicker. Soon they found themselves in the middle of a powerful storm. The engines were fighting loudly against the storm. “What a weather”, muttered Darryl, “The weathermen have well and truly have gotten it wrong again. This is the worst storm I have seen in a long time.”
“People cannot know everything,” answered Fred. “Now I do not see how everything always needs to be so negative.”
“Just wait until we are lying under the ruins of this old airplane with broken limbs and see if you have a different attitude about it then,” grumbled the mechanic back.
“God will bring us safely to our destination. I trust Him since we did pray and He has promised to send His angels to be around us,” the radio engineer tried to calm him.
“God? I don’t need Him. I can help myself. That works a lot better anyway. At least I know where I am with myself!” Darryl answered curtly.
“Why are you always so adverse to everything to do with Christianity?” Fred wanted to know.
“Well, it doesn’t really have anything to do with you, so don’t take it personally. But if you really want to know: lots of people say that they are Christians but in the next moment they do something to prove that they are definitely not,” moaned Darryl.
Fred knew that what his friend was saying is true. There had also been moments in his life where his behaviour had not quite shown that he belongs to Christ. He had occasionally been argumentative with his colleagues when he did not agree with them and he had at times complained about others.
“Fred, there is something wrong with the upper rudder!” Darryl suddenly shouted, pulling him away from his thoughts. “We are losing altitude.”
“Radio SOS! Quickly!” Bill, the co-pilot, screamed through to the back of the freight plane. Fred kept sending emergency signals through the radio. The sweat was standing on his forehead. The nearest airport was over an hour away. His message rang through the stormy night like a scream for help but he did not get any contact with earth. “Put your seatbelts on!” called Bob, the commander, and clamped his hands around the control stick. “We will have to perform an emergency landing.”
“That means—be ready to die!” grumbled Darryl. “I am not flying for the first time but this is my last.”
Fred bowed his head and quietly prayed.
“This is probably the end, Fred,” said Darryl’s shaky voice. “But I don’t think it will be painful. One hit and it’s over.”
“No, this is not the end. It is not the finale. You, Bill, Bob and I will have to stand in front of God in the judgement one day to receive the reward for our lives,” countered Fred, “That will be the end.”
Bob stared through the cabin window. His eyes try to look through the fog. His strong hands are lying calmly on the control stick. “Aren’t you scared, Bob?” asked Bill.
“I am a bit scared but I know that God will not leave me. He is my Redeemer and I can trust in Him completely.” The plane continued to drop lower and lower. Suddenly they came beneath the clouds and see the bubbling of a flowing river. Then the plane crashed.
Darryl was first to wake up from his dizziness. He tried to remember what happened. Oh yes, they crashed. And he is still alive. A wave of relief flowed over him. But he must act quickly because water was flowing in through the ripped open back of the plane. He hurriedly freed himself from the seat belt as Bill came to the back to check on Darryl and Fred. “We have to help Fred.” Shouted Darryl above the noise of the storm.” How is Bob?” He asked.
“He is alive but his arm is broken”, answered Bill.
After half an hour they all managed to climb out of the plane and onto a wing. The wind was blasting through their wet clothes. How long could they survive? Maybe half an hour? Bill shot off a flare. Will someone see it? And if so, will they be brave enough to come into the middle of the wildly flowing river to help some strangers?
The wrecked plane slowly slipped further and further into the water a centimetre at a time. Suddenly Darryl was blown into the water by a stormy gust. The other three men could hear Darryl’s screams of fear through the screaming of the storm. He wildly flapped his arms around, fighting against the deathly cold which was surrounding him from all sides. Then his hands finally found a grip on the back end of the wing. Now he was hanging there in the icy water, but for how long? And he was scared, scared stiff of dying. He did not have the calm assurance that his friends had about death; and now, with the dark waters surrounding him like a grave, he felt very close to death. He knew now he will have to face God as Fred had said and he dreaded the thought.
Darryl’s stiff hands were clambering like clamps at the edge of the rudder. He did not want to die. But his energy was failing. Now, finally, when he seemed to be at the end of his strength, he called to God. Will God listen to him, the person who had often mocked Christians and refused to follow and worship Him, and had often taken His name in vain? Despairing with fear and stiff from the cold Darryl hung on to the end of the wreck which was slowly but surely disappearing into the waves. There was no other hope for him. He now puts his complete faith in God. That was his only hope. A few minutes went by and then. . . .
Suddenly he heard a shout of joy. It was Fred’s voice. He turned his head a little. Yes, help was on the way. The men on the wing were crying out. A little boat with an old
man in it was slowly approaching. It maneuvered towards the wing where the three desperate men were holding on. As the three men got in the boat it sank down into the water almost up to the rim. “The boat is too small and it is leaky,” said the rescuer. “But I don’t have another one. You will have to scoop out the water while I row. We are not too far from the bank, but the currents are strong.”
Just then a terrible scream pierced through the storm. “Darryl! He is alive!” rejoiced Fred.
“What should we do?” called Bill, turning to the rescuer. “Another one on board and we will all drown. You said it yourself.”
Without a word the old stranger started rowing towards the wreck. As soon as he discovered Darryl he skillfully steered the boat to the rear wing and carefully climbed onto the unfortunate machine. Using all of his power he pulled Darryl out of the water and into the boat. The little rowing boat immediately sank down to the rim. “Row in that direction—away from the wreck.” He shouted to them above the sound of the raging storm. “That is the right bank to head for and be quick.”
“What about you?” stammered Bill, “what will you do?”
“I have a powerful Redeemer. I can die and face God. Your friend cannot—I could see that.” Then he gave the boat a strong push.
The men fought silently against the storm. They have experienced something unbelievable and unimaginable together. They finally reached solid ground. Although weak and tired, and shivering from cold, Darryl found new strength and immediately rowed back to the plane wreck.
The waves foamed up around the boat. Despite everything he had gone through he was not tired. He must get back to the wreck, whatever it costs. When he finally reached the spot he sees the side rudder peering slightly out of the water. The old man was… gone. Drowned! He had been ripped away by the violent currents. “O God!” called Darryl throwing his hands over his face. The old man had died for him, for Darryl, the mocker. He confessed his sins and called out to God for mercy.
Darryl silently rowed the boat back to the shore. When he was reunited with his friends in the old man’s cabin, he fell to his knees before them all. He confessed his sin, thanked God for the undeserved mercy and grace he had been shown, and promised to give his life to God and live for Him from now on.
Bob, Bill, and Fred watched in awesome wonder at the goodness of God. This storm was not an accident—a result of human error. This storm was sent by God to reveal Himself to their friend. This storm brought salvation to one who had mocked and cursed God many times. Darryl was true to his word. He was not only baptized but became quite active in the church. He preached occasionally and gave Bible Studies. His wife and family were the most kind and generous in town. The church grew as more and more Christians began to act like they were true children of God.
Every storm in life has a purpose. Above the clouds and the storm God is carefully watching and taking care of all His children. He may create a storm to save one person. That person may be you. You just need to trust and believe that He is in control. “Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.” Psalm 107:28–29