Paul's shipwreck on Malta commemorated with Malta stamp.
I guess they don't believe Paul when he says they'll be caught in a terrible storm, but they do put faith in what he tells them once the storm hits. We're that way with God. We don't always heed His warnings until we're suffering the consequences. Then we ask Him to save us.
And what faith in Paul it took to cut the ropes that held the lifeboats. It's counterintuitive in the middle of a storm to let go of the one thing that logically might save you, but they do. The centurion has his soldiers cut them to keep everyone on board. They can only be saved together. Paul says, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." [Acts:27:30-32]
Is this only because of the practical reason they need the crew to sail the ship? Or is it because God wants us to work together to be saved? They also one by one rid themselves of the things that the world holds dear in order to preserve their lives. They through overboard the cargo -- the wealth of the ship. It goes first. Because it's really the most unnecessary of the things we carry, isn't it. They've already cut the lifeboats free. Then they through overboard the life-sustaining grain or food. Now the anchors that keep them from dashing on the rocks. Then the rudder that steers them. They've given up all control over their direction.
Is this just a dramatic metaphor of the only way we can survive the storms of life?
No comments:
Post a Comment