Mermaids? Sea monsters? What tall tales sailors can tell! Rogue waves? Waves one hundred feet high, rising out of the ocean without warning? More sailors’ stories! Scientists used to lump all together as imagination and exaggeration.
No longer! Too many incidents—proven incidents—have changed this fable to fact. One such event occurred in April of last year. The cruise ship Norwegian Dawn was sailing off the coast of Georgia, from the Bahamas to New York, when a giant wave “appeared out of nowhere.” It struck the bow of the ship with the tremendous force of tons of water, smashing windows and sending furniture flying. Reaching as high as the tenth deck, it flooded 62 cabins and seriously injured four passengers. There was panic, screaming and hysterical crying among the shocked passengers.
The ship was forced to put in to the harbor at Charleston, South Carolina, for repairs and a Coast Guard inspection before continuing to New York, but some three hundred elected to leave the ship at Charleston. Some announced that they would never venture on the ocean again.
It was not a tsunami; it was that legendary “rogue wave” that sailors talked about to unbelieving listeners. That was the proof; that was reality. Scientists now searching old records and combining known facts are estimating that these monster waves can reach a possible height of 150 feet, higher than the Statue of Liberty. Even today, in spite of all our technological advances, night, storm and sea can be a dangerous combination.
Reading of the “panicked passengers” on the Norwegian Dawn we are reminded of an incident over 2000 years ago. This was not a huge cruise ship on the ocean; this was only a few people in a small boat on a very small sea. But a storm arose—suddenly and violently—and they were just as panicked when their little boat filled with water. One on that little ship was peacefully asleep, and to Him the sailors rushed, crying, “Save us!” and even saying such as, We’re dying! Don’t You care?
Of course He cared! But He was the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and He knew there was no possibility that any ship He was in could sink. He only said, “Peace, be still,” and the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Have you ever met a “rogue wave” of disaster in your life? A disaster that seemed to “come out of nowhere” and just shattered your life? Have you ever cried, “Does God care?”
He cares! He cares for you so much that He gave His only Son to save you from perishing-from going down in the storms of life to a lost eternity from perishing in darkness forever. He wants to bring you into light, into life, into love. He would gladly be your Guide, your Pilot through the darkest, most desperate circumstances.
Science and technology combined have not mastered rogue waves. They have not produced a reliable warning system, nor a way to strengthen ships. John Becker, the instructor who teaches captains and pilots how to operate large ships, says, “Rogue waves come upon you so fast; there is really nothing you can do.”
So much for monster waves in the ocean. But waves of disaster in an individual life? That story is so different! The Lord Jesus has still the power to say, “Peace, be still,” to the wild winds and waves. He has still the power to bring individual ships safe to land. He will safely bring you to shore if you turn to Him, saying, “Lord, I believe. I can no longer see my way through these storms; I am sinking. Save me, in mercy and grace, for Thy name’s sake!”
Quickly, while it is still the day of God’s grace, accept the one true Pilot and turn the wheel over to Him. Then He can say, “My peace I give unto you.... Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:2727Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)).