Frank Shirk

I thank God that while He was calling sinners, He remembered me. He was faithful to my heart and opened my blinded eyes to see the better things of life. For years I couldn’t see them, but stumbled along in darkness and sin – right over the things that were real. All my life I spurned God’s love and His convicting hand. I always knew I was a transgressor in His sight.

In North Dakota, in an awful storm of wind, rain, terrible thunder and lightning, and great hailstones, I was warned to take shelter in the house. I refused twice saying, “Don’t worry about me; I am all right.” But I hardly got the words out of my mouth the second time when a blinding flash of lightning seemed to burst right in front of me, striking me in one arm and going out the other. I could smell the “smoke and brimstone.” I told the one who warned me that it didn’t pay to open your mouth before God. Surely the Son of God made intercession for me that day and gave me another chance.

For years that great commandment in the Word of God would come before me: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37). I used to say in my heart, “How could it ever be?” The things of the world were my choice, and I traveled with a fast crowd and had an adventurous disposition. I was a typical worldly young man; wild, reckless, and always looking for something. You would find me around the pool halls, the bowling alleys, racetracks, and skating rinks – everywhere that a young man seeks pleasure.

When World War I broke out I could hardly wait until I could go. For two-and-a-half years during the war I served in the U.S. Navy on board battleships and worked as an aircraft mechanic. God was faithful to strive with my heart whether on the sea, on land, or in the air.

One day the commanding officer of the plane I was on turned the machine over to me. As I gazed over the fuselage, thousands of feet below, God spoke out of Heaven to me and said, “What if?” I was face to face with the real issue and said, “My soul would land in Hell.” God was talking to my poor soul; He spared my life and brought me home safe and sound.

Thank God that He seeks after the lost until He finds them. One day, after deciding to go West instead of joining my brother at the University of Michigan as previously planned, I started over the mountains toward Portland, Oregon, in an old racing car. God spared my life twice on that trip. Sitting one Sunday afternoon in a theatre in Wenatchee, Washington, the Lord seemed to shut off that picture and turn on another. I saw Jesus hanging on the Cross for me. It was so real I said, “I wish everybody could see that.”

I arrived in Portland, Oregon and while walking along Burnside Street one night, I heard a group of Apostolic Faith people on the street corner telling the marvelous story that Jesus saves. They told of the wonder-working power of God to save those who were whipped, down, and couldn’t make the grade. I said, “There is no use!” I took the Apostolic Faith paper they gave me up to the hotel where my mother and two sisters were staying. My mother began reading that paper to my sisters. Afterwards, they were all in tears, and God was talking to my heart also. Mother asked me if I would go to service with her and I said, “Yes, I will go.”As I rushed up the steps and set my feet on the floor of the mission hall I felt confronted with the Spirit of God, and something seemed to whisper, “Home at last!” It seemed as if I had made a good run and had crossed the finish line, coming out of darkness into light. I had completed a long journey and at last I had gotten home. I listened intently and God had a chance to talk to my heart.

When the altar call was given I almost ran to the place of prayer. Upon my knees I gave God what was left of an ill-spent life. I unburdened my heart to Him and He heard my cry for mercy. He wrought a miracle in my life that night. In one moment of time Jesus blotted out all my sins, and in one great stroke they were gone. I was born again with a new heart and new desires. There was a real praise in my heart for the Savior and what He had done for me. A young man reached his hand over the altar and said, “It is good to serve the Lord.” I found it a fact.

I never dreamed God could take the love for the things of this world so completely out of my heart, for I loved them so well. But He made a mighty change in my life, taking out the blasphemy and the awful temper that caused me to fight even my best friends. God made me a happy winner. He planted peace and happiness in my heart and gave me power to go and sin no more. He rolled away the burden of sin that I had carried for years and I arose from that altar feeling so clean and so free.

My mother had prayed that God would lead her little flock to His own people and that is just what He did. Thank God my tongue has never slipped in all these many years. That is mighty real too. For many years I have worked as an automobile mechanic but God has kept me. Sometimes the boys would ask me why I didn’t swear or smoke. I thank God that I could tell them that I wasn’t ashamed of the old-time religion.

I straightened out many a wrong deed. I confessed to the Commanding Officer of the First Naval District where I served as an aircraft mechanic during the war. While under his command, I had stolen tools and materials. I paid the money back. They freely forgave me. I paid for railroad fare where I had beaten my way over the railroad—not because I was broke, but just to get a little “kick” out of this life. I made other things right that were wrong, and I am happy. I am satisfied and I love to recommend so great a salvation, because I know it stands the test.