SHIPS, large and small, must all go into drydock at times for repairs. Adjustments must be made and accidents create need for repairing. Sometimes the hull needs painting and the joints need welding and caulking. Then oftentimes they must have the barnacles cleared off.
Barnacles are a variety of shellfish which float in the sea until they come into contact with some floating object. They are suckers and fasten themselves to the object and make it their home. At times the ship becomes so covered with barnacles below the waterline that the progress of the ship is hindered. They have been known to become so thick as to even sink a vessel. Scientists tell us that they fasten their heads to the vessel and kick the food into their stomachs with their legs.
Now, like a great ship with many people aboard and sailing along, Christ is carrying countless souls across this ocean of time to the distant heavenly shore. Some people are like barnacles and fasten themselves to the good ship Grace by perhaps joining the church and pressing to be Christians, and say, “We are following Christ.” They are like the barnacles following the ship through the ocean. They appropriate to themselves some of the benefits and blessings of Christianity; but the Apostle says: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” 2 Corinthians 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17).
We must be in Christ, not on Christ only — in the ship, not just on the ship outside. When we come to the Lord Jesus as sinners and surrender to Him, He receives us and we are made “new creatures” in Him. He died on Calvary’s cross to put away our sins — oh how great the cost of our redemption! — and His precious blood is our ticket from earth to heaven. It is our title to enjoy all the blessings along the way, and in that glorious land when we get there.
Let each dear reader be sure that he is a “new creature” in Christ Jesus. Some day the great ship will enter port. All who are in Christ will be with Him throughout eternity. All who are only following will be cleaned off like the barnacles, and as they are cast away they will hear Him say: “Depart from Me, I never knew you.”
The best Friend to have is Jesus;
The best Friend to have is Jesus;
He will hear me when I call:
He will keep me lest I fall,
Oh, the best Friend to have is Jesus.
The best thing to do is to trust Him;
The best thing to do is to trust Him;
And if you on Him depend,
He will keep you to the end;
Oh, the best thing to do is to trust Him.
ML-11/16/1969