Jesus is our Lifeboat

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

JESUS IS OUR LIFEBOAT

Acts 27:13-20

13 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. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the "northeaster," swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. 17 When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. 18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

NIV

Just when things were looking good, the gentle south wind gave them what they were looking for, or they thought they had obtained what they wanted, but what they thought and what happened are two opposite things. They were not prepared for the violent storm that was descending upon them. It came without warning as it swept down from the island. They did whatever they thought would keep the ship afloat and able to make it through the storm. They even gave up their precious cargo and all the extra furniture or extra tacking in an attempt to save themselves from perishing. They were hardly able to secure the lifeboat, hoisting it aboard. From that record, it appears ships of that day dragged a lifeboat behind the main ship. But it was not going to save them from the following text, we know the ship ran aground; however, because of God, all lives were saved. There may be storms that come into our lives; they can appear without warning. It is possible that when we think we have obtained what we wanted, a storm shows up and tosses us about. That may not always be the case, but it could happen. When that storm tries to drown us, we might attempt to save ourselves somehow, doing whatever we can to overcome it, attempting to throw all the extra stuff overboard, ridding ourselves of something. Still, the reality is that our only salvation comes from the Lord. When they had tried everything to survive the storm, failing, they finally gave up all hope of being saved. We wonder whether we believe that our being saved depends on what we do to overcome life's storms. What we know is that we can never give up all hope of being saved, for our salvation was not secured by our doing anything, or even by throwing all things overboard, ridding ourselves of things, attitudes, or behaviors, but by Jesus and Him alone. All our hope is in Jesus. Whatever we have in an attempt to travel over the seas of life isn't enough to reach our destination. Our only lifeboat is Jesus. We are secure in Jesus.