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It happened four or five years ago – my family and I were staying at my parents’ cabin in Northern California. The cabin sits on the shore of a body of water known as Lake Almanor.
One day we wanted to go exploring up a creek that fed into the lake. We took the family speedboat and tied a small fishing boat behind. We arrived at the mouth of this creek, tied up the big boat and drove the small one up as far as we could go. Protected in this little cove we had no idea what was happening out on the lake. Now you need to know something about this lake – it has a notorious reputation. Many afternoons the wind comes up suddenly – turning glassy waters into choppy seas in minutes. When we ventured back out on the lake we ran into large waves and high winds. Navigating in that situation with just one boat is difficult enough, but one boat towing another? We were in trouble. The waves were so high that the boat slammed down hard – with green water coming over the bow at one point. We actually feared that we would either sink both boats, or go crashing up on the rocks. Well, we did neither – we arrived back safely – wet, but in one piece. Such is not the case for the boat our hero, the Apostle Paul, rides in this week. And I can appreciate what he went through – although our adventure was tame in comparison. The story in Acts goes from Law and Order to Gilligan’s Island – as Paul’s journey to Rome gets interrupted by an adventure on the high seas. Seasick: LA SCUBA God warned Paul of impending doom ahead of time, but did not prevent it from happening. We ask ourselves, as we did on the boat that day, “what will I do if something really catastrophic occurs?” We fear, yet God is with us. :13 There was a tendency for that gentle south wind to turn into a violent northeast wind. The fear confronting the sailors was that they would end up in the shallows and quicksands of North Africa. :16 The lifeboat probably had been towed behind the boat. :19 They threw overboard the extra stuff and gear. :21 The men probably were seasick and that’s one reason why they didn’t eat. I remember a time when I took a SCUBA test out on Catalina Island off of Los Angeles. Paul was not giving an “I told you so” kind of statement but said this to get their attention. :27 James Smith made investigated the accuracy of the claim that on the 14th night they would have reached Malta. Sailors in the region calculated that it would take 13 days, 1 hour and twenty minutes to make the journey. They landed in a place now known as “St. Paul’s Bay”. What does this story teach us? 1) It teaches us about how God uses us in times of extreme trouble • God had brought Paul through other shipwrecks so that he would not be afraid • He used Paul as a source of comfort • He used Paul’s wisdom to save others’ lives 2) It teaches us that God doesn’t spare us from dire straits. • God warned Paul that troubled waters lay ahead, but He did not prevent it from happening. • Have bad things happened to you? A death? A severe sickness or injury? Maybe a wreck or something else traumatic. Does it mean God hates you or just doesn’t care what happens to you? Not at all. • Matthew 10:29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” • So terrible times serve to present opportunities for God to work, and opportunities for us to witness for him. • Does that mean everything will always turn out right? No. Remember the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? • Dan 3:16-18 “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." 3) It teaches us that God is there even in the toughest circumstances • An angel came to Paul and told him he’d get through it – and he and all of them did. 4) It teaches us that nothing can stand in the way of God’s plan for our lives. • The angel told Paul “You must stand trial before Caesar.” God had a mission for Paul – not to get shipwrecked, but something beyond. • Sometimes we face challenges and we think – how could God bring me through this – how am I going to get out of this? But God has the big picture in mind for what He wants to do through your life and NOTHING can stop that from happening – even if it seems at the time to be impossible. 5) It teaches us to be an example for God in the midst of tremendous circumstance. • The men on the ship had given up hope – and given up eating. Why eat when you are going to die? But Paul not only ate, but gave thanks to God as an example to others. • It’s one thing to talk about the Lord and about how He loves us and cares for us and died for us – when things are going well – but it’s quite another when people are at risk of dieing – or think they are. Your witness carries a whole lot more weight then – and more power to bring others into God’s kingdom. 6) How do you react when tragedy strikes? • It is a way for God to test our metal. Do you turn ugly? Do you get mad at God? Do you lose it? I don’t say this to condemn – we all have our weaknesses and God is at work in all of us to change us into His image – but it’s worth considering. |
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