John Newton was the name of a man once. He had a difficult life, was known to swear and blaspheme, and was a drinker from the beginning.
He attempted to flee while serving in the navy. The crew of the slave ship despised him so much that they abandoned him in West Africa while he was serving. He started trading slaves himself, serving as the ship's captain as it transported people from their homes to their areas of captivity.
During one such journey, a horrible storm approached. The ship was almost ripped apart. After the storm had lasted for eleven days, Newton could no longer stand and had to tie himself to the helm. At his lowest point, he cried out to God for assistance, not only to survive the storm but also to survive his own storm-ravaged wreck of a life. He spent 11 hours trying to steer through the storm in the vain hope that the ship would not sink.
Newton gradually started to realise how dysfunctional his life actually was after this realisation. He became a minister, committed his life to God, and spoke out against the slave trade.
Occasionally, he composed brief lyrical pieces for his followers to perform during their Sunday evening services. Such a song can touch any one of us profoundly. Sin has us as its slaves. We're totally disoriented. We're hanging onto the ship's helm, praying against all hope."
Newton changed from a cruel and nasty man to a good and moral man. Not everyone shares his traits.
One person's bad behaviour does not guarantee that they will be terrible for the rest of their life.
He was famous of writing a song called "Amazing Grace."
"Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me,
I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.
Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear, and Grace my fear relieved,
How precious did that Grace appear, the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares, we have already come,
Twas Grace that brought us safe thus far, and Grace will lead us home.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, than when we first begun"
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