Dying Soldier Finds Life

A Final Request on the Battlefield

"Bert’s hit and he’s down," shouted Jim amidst the intense fighting along the "Traverse Trench" in France during World War I. As Jim tried to stop Bert's fatal bleeding, he was startled by Bert’s dying request: “Can you tell me the way to heaven?”

The Question

Jim moved closer and said,

“Bert, I’m sorry. I don’t know the way. But I’ll ask the others.”

He ran along the trench asking those nearby, but no one knew the answer.

The request was passed down the line to sixteen men. None of them knew the way to heaven. These young soldiers from a supposedly "Christian" country could not help their dying friend.

The Need for Truth

When a man is dying on the battlefield, he needs the truth – not opinions or speculations. Good works, baptism, confirmation, communion, and rituals were not going to help Bert who was dying in a ditch somewhere in France. He knew he was a sinner and what he desperately needed was the Savior.

Could you have told Bert the way to heaven? Could you have opened the Bible and pointed out God’s plan of salvation?

The Answer

Back in the trench, the request continued down the line: “Bert’s dying and wants to know the way to heaven. Who can tell him?”

Finally, the 17th soldier replied,

“I know the way, but I can’t leave my position.”

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small Bible and opened it to John 3:16.

“Read this verse to Bert. Tell him to listen carefully. This is the way to heaven.”

Quickly the message and the Bible were passed along the trench to Jim who took it to Bert and said:

“Bert, I’ve got it. Listen carefully. Here’s the way to heaven: ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life’” (John 3:16).

Bert’s eyes opened wide.

“Read it again,” he said.

With tears in his eyes, Jim repeated those life-giving words. A look of peace came over Bert’s face as he whispered, "whoever believes."

After a moment, his face lit up. He smiled and whispered,

“I do believe,”

and was gone – from the battlefield to be with Christ! Bert Smith found the way to heaven just in time.

Don’t Wait

As a soldier, I also knew that I was a sinner:

“All have sinned” (Romans 3:23).

And I found that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. He said:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; 10:9).

The Bible says,

“There is no other name under heaven … by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

It also says,

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life” (John 3:36).

There is only one way to heaven. Don’t wait until you are dying to trust Jesus as your Savior. You may not have the chance Bert did.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found” (Isaiah 55:6).

Scriptures from The New King James Version, © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. By permission.