A Mariner

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 8
How much the Christian resembles the mariner in a wide expanse of ocean. All his bearings have to be taken from the heavens. The earth is out of sight, and there is no beaten path for him in the sea; so the mariner is entirely dependent on seeing the position of the heavenly bodies-mainly, the sun. The Christian, since the things of the world cannot guide him, takes his bearings here on earth entirely from Christ's position there in heaven, and steers his course accordingly. He goes on with the knowledge that Christ was rejected here, and yet he goes forward fearlessly because the same Christ who died for him has been received up into glory, and lives for him at the Father's right hand. So he keeps the world at his back, and a glorified Savior before him.
Many have made shipwreck because they have not steered in this way; many have even gone on without taking their bearings at all. It is good when it can be said of us, "The Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him." Deut. 32:1212So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. (Deuteronomy 32:12). When the Lord alone leads, there is nothing to becloud our vision, or to distort our judgments by grieving the Spirit of God.