This Titanic story, in closing, demonstrates that little things mean a lot. Let me give you three examples:
First, there was only one pair of binoculars on board and the first officer refused to let the seamen in the crow's nest have them. Had the lookout in the crow's nest spotted the iceberg even 15 seconds earlier, the collision would have been avoided. One pair of binoculars could have saved over 1,500 lives. Little things mean a lot!
Second, there were no red flares on board, only white ones. White flares were used for many things, but never to signal danger; red flares were the international maritime signal of emergency. The Californian, moored in icy water less than 10 miles away, spotted the eight white flares, but did not know what they meant. Had there been even a single red flare, it would not have been misinterpreted. That one red flare would have saved the passengers on the Titanic; little things mean a lot!
The third example was the matter of a short rope. The crew measured water temperature by lowering a bucket into the ocean, drawing it up to the ship and then testing the sea water with a thermometer. Water in the 32 degree range spelled the danger of icebergs.
The Titanic crew had failed to allow for the increased height of the monster ship. When the seaman in charge lowered the bucket, the rope would not reach all the way to the water. Instead of trying to find a longer rope, the seaman simple filled the bucket with tap water from the ship and recorded its temperature in the captain's log.
The evidence later showed that other ships in the area had duly noted the frigid water temperature and either weighed anchor or changed course to avoid the ice.
Think of it, some of the most powerful people on earth could have been saved for the length of a cotton rope.
One of the third-class passengers who managed to survive the Titanic described the scene for Congress.
"Close around us in a 200 foot circle lay a thousand souls, crying, praying, yelling and doing their best to save their lives...The long continuous wailing chant persisted, greatly disturbing everyone in the lifeboats...There was a continual moan for about an hour."
Imagine listening to those pitiful screams and being helpless to save the perishing.
Now imagine the scene in Hell. Hear the people screaming from the flames, wailing in total torment.
Listen to what they are saying: "I could have been saved, if only I had prayed one prayer of confession and repentance."
One prayer---one 60 second prayer----can save a soul from the flames of Hell forever. Little things mean a lot, even to God!
-Richard B. Saul, Pastor at Lee Worship Center