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Thousands of people excitedly embarked on the cruise ship
CAREFREE on a delightfully sunny day, one similar to many before and
seemingly a prelude for many to come. On that first day at sea most
of the passengers paid little attention to the mandatory evacuation
training…they were too busy eating, drinking and being merry.
One afternoon an alarm was suddenly sounded.
Crewmembers said the ship was sinking. Some passengers joined in
with them and began proclaiming the news to everyone on board that the
time was short.
Some travelers refused to believe these
warnings. They looked about and everything seemed just fine.
The ship wasn’t listing, there was no evidence of water leaking into the
lower decks, no rogue icebergs were spotted…their instincts, experience
and intelligence collectively told them all was well. They laughed
at the poor fools wasting their time thinking they were in danger.
Some deliberately opposed the warning by shouting, “All is well!” Some heard the
warnings and casually went about putting on the lifejackets before
quickly returning to their leisurely activities. Scant attention
was given to the continued warnings. They reasoned since they had
their lifejackets on, they were protected. If the warnings turned out to
be true, which most of them doubted, then they would simply jump into the
ocean and trust in their lifejackets.
Others listened to
the warnings and, after donning their lifejackets, searched for a
lifeboat. They saw some conveniently located by wide aisle ways
that were especially appealing. When crewmen instructed them to
move to other lifeboats due to the condition of the hulls, no one paid
attention. “Why leave this one,” one figured. “The hull looks
fine to me – freshly painted as a matter of fact. All lifeboats are
pretty much the same anyway, so what difference could it possibly make
which one is holding me? My friends are already here and I’m
not going to leave them. I’m staying put!”
But there were a few who, after hearing and heeding
the warnings, put on their lifejackets and searched for a lifeboat.
Asking the crewmen which ones were seaworthy, they searched specifically
for those lifeboats. Seeing the hulls on the others were rotting,
they entreated the passengers in them to leave. Most dismissed this
with, “Everyone has a right to their own opinions. We’re happy
where we are. We’re all going to get to the same place when this
over – it doesn’t matter how we get there.”
The
warnings of impending disaster were true. The ship indeed
sank.
When those who had purposefully ignored the warnings realized
they were sinking, it was too late. Every one of them
perished.
When
those wearing their lifejackets realized they were sinking, they blithely
jumped into the ocean fully expecting their lifejackets to save
them. They hadn’t counted on the water temperature being 40
degrees. All of them perished as well.
Those trusting in the comfortable, appealing lifeboats
confidently set out to sea awaiting their sure rescue. How
surprised they were to discover only too late that the rotting hulls made
their lifeboats no more capable of saving them than the doomed ship they
had just abandoned. Every individual in these lifeboats perished.
But
those who had diligently listened to the evacuation orders, who had
carefully put on their lifejackets, who had heeded the crewmen by making
their way through the narrow aisles to board the outwardly unappealing
lifeboats – every last one of them was saved. Not a single soul was
lost.
With
God’s help, may all of us trust completely and solely in what Jesus
Christ has already accomplished for our salvation. Trusting in
anything else – whether it’s family, infant baptism, church tradition –
leads us to the same end: we will perish! He who has ears to hear,
let him hear.
Will
you join with us in sounding the clarion call to a world that is eating,
drinking, and making merry oblivious to any thoughts of God’s impending
judgment? Your evangelical church's Outreach Team is ready to
equip you to share the gospel with your family, friends, neighbors and the
world. Don’t delay. The time is short!
To God Be The Glory!
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