ADRIFT

From My Perspective - - -

One of the more uncertain and dangerous situations is when a sailing vessel breaks loose from its moorings or the anchor is insufficient to secure a ship. The following incidents illustrate such moments (these events can be read online – The Shipwreck Log where they are pictured and recorded). These are classed as Maritime Accidents around the world.One incident pertained to the fishing vessel that went adrift from     Hokkaido during the 2011 tsunami in Japan and floated across the Pacific Ocean. The Coast Guard determined to sink the vessel rather than to attempt to tow it to port.  Such was the case when Japan was subjected to both an Earthquake and a Tsunami. The 164 foot long fishing vessel Ryou-Un Maru was sunk in the Gulf of Alaska by the Coast Guard. 

A second illustration pertained to a Coal Barge that became loosed from it’s moorings on the Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia. One crewman was on-board working on shifting cargo on the fully loaded coal barge when the mooring lines broke loose. For 15 minutes, the Barge and crewman floated down the Ohio River towards The Pike Island Lock and Dam. A towboat responded and was able to safely rescue the crewman. The Barge was finally secured about 100 yards from the Dam. The Coast Guard reported that several days of heavy rain was the blame for the Barge breaking loose.

There are some Biblical illustrations as well. Most are familiar with the account of the runaway Prophet – Jonah. He had made a decision to avoid doing what God had directed him to do. He decided he would board a ship and get as far away as he could from the place where God wanted him to go. This decision led to near-tragic consequences for him and the crewmen on the vessel. In Jonah 1:4-6, “…the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. The captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish." The only way to avert this tragic-consequence was to throw Jonah overboard. Once they arrived at that point  - Jonah 1:14-15, “…they cried to the Lord, O Lord, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O Lord, have done as you pleased. Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm.”

Another illustration is recorded in Mark 4:35-41, Jesus said to His Disciples - "Let us go over to the other side. Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along…in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, Teacher, don't you care if we drown? He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, Quiet! Be still! Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? They were terrified and asked each other, Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!"

The Lessons one needs to learn are: (1) God is in complete control of His Creation; (2) It is impossible (and foolish) to try to escape (run away) from God’s Presence; (3) The Lord expects all to acknowledge Him in all things and at all times; (4) Faith and Obedience are Absolutes that should not be ignored or compromised; (5) God will use anything and/or all things to gain one’s attention and focus; (6) God has a perfect plan and wants our lives to fit into that plan; (7) The Lord wants us to submit to His Authority and to serve Him Faithfully and Energetically. Don’t be among those who are adrift – drifting carelessly/recklessly with the cultural tide. Jesus Christ is our Hope and Stay. Hebrews 6:19, “we have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Consider these things with me!