In our last lesson, we left off with the apostle Paul encouraging everyone
on board the storm tossed vessel, exhorting us to be of good cheer. Easy
for him to say! By the way, did you ever stop to think why those words
were so easy for Paul to say? I'll bet some of those on board the ship
did! You see, it was easy for Paul to be of good cheer because he had
faith - and they didn't. Faith in God and His Word....
Acts 27:25 (KJV)
Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be
even as it was told me.
Ladies, when we believe what God has said, He responds to our belief!
The Lord was honoring Paul's faith and sent a special word of encouragement
in his time of trial as well as His promise of Divine protection. During
the two weeks they had been at sea, the ship had been driven 500 miles
off course and was now confronted with a deadly storm. However, even in
the midst of our greatest personal dangers we can have confidence that
God is always with us, and that certainty will have an effect on others
around us, as did Paul's. An angel of God stood by Paul and not only encouraged
him, but also informed him that they would soon experience shipwreck.
Yes, even Paul, God's man, would have to go through hard times more than
once! Even so, the angel reassured Paul in stating that while ship and
cargo would be lost, all passengers would be spared and cast upon an island…
Now ladies, think for a moment. While carrying the weight of additional
disturbing information, do you really think you could turn to people and
exhort them to be of good cheer, as did Paul? He certainly was a man of
great faith! Today, you might be facing some unsettling news yourself
- the death of a loved one, serious illness in a family member or friend,
loss of a job, a spouse seeking divorce - whatever the case may be. Will
you, like Paul, when faced with devastating news, be able to maintain
good cheer because your assurance comes in knowing God will be with you
through the difficulty? Your spiritual buoyancy can and will spread to
those who are involved in the storms of life with you, bringing the whole
situation around to the glory of God! Only one true Anchor is needed to
survive the overwhelming circumstances we encounter in this life. You
see ladies, those that are always fearful of being dashed upon the rocks
are those whose anchors are not steadfast and sure; they have no real
faith…
Acts 27:25 (KJV)
Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors
out of the stern, and wished for the day.
This is precisely what those who have no faith in God do - they have numerous
other anchors in their lives that they depend upon during turbulent times
that simply do not bring peace or stability to their souls. How do I know
that? Because scripture says that after they cast their four anchors out,
they WISHED for the day. More than anything, they wished to see the light
of a new morning – even more than they longed for God’s grace… That does
not sound like much faith to me; does it to you?? When you know the one
true Anchor, you'll pray - you won't wish, wonder or worry!!
Psalm 130:6 (KJV)
My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning:
I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
Ladies, even in the darkest hour there can still be light shining within
us - God's light! We who are saved have an Anchor steadfast and sure for
our souls, dispelling all our doubts, fears and darkness. That Anchor
is the Lord Jesus Christ and He's the only Anchor that holds!! He's an
Anchor that steadies us as we cast all our cares upon Him, trusting in
His Divine protection, as did Paul, facing the tempest while keeping our
composure. Better to have one true Anchor, than four wrong ones, amen?
Are you sure you've got the true Anchor today for your soul?
Romans 4:20-21 (KJV)
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong
in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he
had promised, he was able also to perform.
Facing shipwreck forces you to consider what it is you are resting in
to preserve your life, what it is that will keep you from sinking in despair.
Perhaps that is the reason why these passengers were going through this
stormy time, simply so they could discover they were resting in assorted
anchors. You see ladies; God is at work even in the details of each and
every storm. Be thankful for the trials that come into your lives that
prove your stability and where it really comes from - if at all! No other
Anchor will hold but Christ... Do you truly believe that?
Acts 27:30-31 (KJV)
And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let
down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast
anchors out of the foreship, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers,
Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
Encircled by the roaring sound and force of the waves, these fearful passengers
frantically endeavored to escape the conditions that were overwhelming
them. They began running for their lives in a foolish direction - right
over the side of the ship and into the raging sea to board a small boat!
Now that doesn't make a bit of sense to me! Would a smaller vessel really
be safer than a big ship at a time like this?? Obviously, these voyagers
suffered from impaired judgment as the storm reached its peak in intensity.
Their hasty behavior proves to us their unbelief was real. You see, if
they truly trusted those four anchors, they would have stayed put! Instead,
they were reacting desperately and foolishly, ill equipped to handle the
pressure come upon them. Earlier, Paul had conveyed to everyone that God
had promised He would keep safe those on board the ship with Paul. To
abandon ship was to abandon safety and security, to abandon God’s promises
by taking matters into their own hands!
Hebrews 3:12 (KJV)
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief,
in departing from the living God.
Ladies, unbelief in God will result in the same reaction in our lives
- we will choose our own way of surviving. However, unless you do things
God's way, you cannot be rescued!! By the way, did any of you detect Paul
desiring to abandon ship? It was a perfect opportunity for a prisoner
to escape; right when utter pandemonium was taking place. Who would notice
his escape while everyone else was running for their own their life? Nonetheless,
God's man, filled with faith, stayed, stood, and faced the storm, and
made a notable difference!
In closing, if you had been on board, why would you or wouldn't you have
been tempted to leave the ship along with the sailors? So many Christians
today seek to escape unpleasant duties and live only for themselves. In
what ways do you look out for your own interests before considering the
needs of others? Ladies, we can benefit from our problems and even our
frustrations when we face them as indubitably the apostle Paul did. Do
you understand the difference between when to abandon an adverse situation
and when to stay put? The apostle Paul did simply because He obeyed the
Word of God and trusted the Lord! Hence, he was of good cheer. May God
help us do all we can to prevent people from “jumping ship”, thereby giving
up any hope of survival. Our Anchor should keep us put and shore up their
faith in God!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2004
