The Christian Voyage

There are many metaphors and analogies that can be made to illustrate the Christian life. It is compared to a marathon race, a long foot journey, and to sailing voyages, to name but a few. Let us consider the latter analogy and look at two incidents in which disciples of Christ were "at sea" in a boat or ship. Then, let us contemplate their likeness to the life of the believer in Jesus.

Sailing through the storms of life

"Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Fast. So Paul warned them, "Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also...When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the "northeaster," swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along...we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground...they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island...Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away...The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land in safety." (Acts 27: 9-32, 42-45 NIV)

First, we may look at the important players and entities in these stories, yea, in any sailing adventure, and see how they may be applied to the life of the Christian.

Captain = Christ
Ship Owner = God the Father
Ship = Church
Rudder = Holy Spirit
Chart & Compass = Holy Scriptures
Anchor = Hope in Christ

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf." (Hebrew 6: 19,20)

"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (Hebrews 2: 10)

There are a number of good lessons to be gained in looking at Paul's sea voyage to Rome as an illustration of the Christian as he "sails through life."

First, the relationship of predestination to human choice and responsibility is brought into view.

Paul had been assured by the Lord, through his angel, that there would be "no loss of life," but only "damage to the ship and cargo." Lord God had already decreed to spare the lives of all "on board," for the sake of Paul and his mission work. Yet, even though all this was prophetic, and certain to occur, by God's predetermination, Paul did not hesitate to give orders and commands to all on board the ship, even putting those commands into language that some might think implies that the future was not certain, as respects the deliverance of every soul on board, saying - "Except (or"if") these do not abide in the ship, you cannot be saved."

The question naturally arises - "What if they had not obeyed Paul and remained in the ship?" Well, first, they would not have been saved from drowning. Second, God's word would have been false, for he had said - "none will be lost." Did God's predestination of the salvation of all on board not make it certain that Paul's command would be heeded? Or, did God simply foresee that the commands of Paul would be obeyed and then made his prophecy?

Doubtless the former is the correct view. In the Bible, "foreknowleged" follows predestination. "Him being delivered by the determinate counsel (predestination) and foreknowledge of God..." (Acts 2: 23 KJV)

Also, the record is that God had "given" to Paul the lives of all on board the ship. The sparing of the lives of all was all for Paul's sake and was graciously and mercifully given to the passengers.

Like Paul, the Christian is destined to "reach the other side," or to reach his final destination, or finish his course, and this all a matter of God's grace and predestination, but it does not negate his working on the ship, while traveling, towards his goal of reaching his desired haven or harbor, for he, like those passengers and sailors, who travelled with Paul, will often have to "throw overboard" many things they are carrying, or to do as Paul wrote in Hebrews and "lay aside (or "throw overboard") every weight (unneeded cargo) and the sin that so easily besets us and let us run (or sail through life) with perseverence, looking unto Jesus..." (12: 1 KJV)

"And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered." (Mark 6: 45-51)

Here is another historical event in the life of Christ and his disciples, and just like the story of Paul's sailing voyage to Rome, so too this story of a sailing adventure illustrates many things relative to the life of the Christian.

Christians too find their lives difficult, so that they too, spiritually speaking, are often "toiling hard in rowing." They too find severe adverse winds to oppose all their efforts. They too find times when it seems as if Christ has forsaken the ship. But, praise God, he also comes to his disciples at such times, and calms the storms of life, and brings his disciples all "safely through."

Some see Christ's coming "in the fourth watch of the night" as full of prophetic significance in relation to the time of his second coming, when he will suddenly appear to his church to bring them immediately to a place of safety.

Friend, are you sailing through life in a safe ship? Do you have a capable captain? How strong is your anchor? Do you have a reliable chart and compass? Are you without a rudder? If you are a Christian, already in the Old Ship of Zion, will you "abide in the ship?"