I
t was supposed to be a fun-filled day of climbing Jamaica’s famous Dunn’s River Falls and swimming with the dolphins. And that is exactly how it almost turned out.
Eight passengers who were aboard the Independence of the Seas had booked a day’s excursion to visit the famous attraction. And, sure enough, they did get to climb the falls and even swam with dolphins. But when they were on the return trip to Falmouth, their bus driver got into an accident that cost one person his life and three others serious injury. According to the suit that passengers filed against the Royal Caribbean cruise lines, their bus driver was driving recklessly — speeding and changing lanes several times. When they repeatedly asked him to slow down, his response was that he was driving “the way everyone typically drives in Jamaica.” Though he was speeding, he was not quick enough to get out of the way of a truck that had gotten into his lane. The truck ended up broadsiding the bus, which flipped several times.
The lawsuit that the tourists filed claims that Royal Caribbean put their lives in danger by having them sign up with an inept bus driver, which ended up being a death trap. They stated that the result was that Royal Caribbean failed to provide them with a safe excursion.
Two Distinct Excursions
Eight tourists expected their tour guide to get them safely back to their ship, but he did not do so. Like those tourists, we too, are on a journey with a destination at its end. What you believe and who you trust in will determine how the journey ends. You are on one of two paths on life’s journey. The Bible says: “Enter ye in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-1413Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13‑14)). There is only one way to heaven, and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)). Knowing that Jesus is the way to heaven and eternal life, how do we come to Him? We acknowledge our sinful state before a righteous and holy God, and have “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:2121Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21)). We are promised, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:1313For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)). Jesus is the “straight gate” that leads to salvation and eternal life — come to Him now, while you are able!
Ignored Warnings
Another cruise ship with over 6,000 people aboard courted disaster when it sailed out of New Jersey for the Bahamas and ran into a hurricane off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Terrified passengers hunkered down in their cabins, as the captain battled 125-mph winds which whipped the sea into 30-foot waves. For roughly 12 hours, the Anthem of the Seas pitched and heaved, including four or five hours when the massive ship was at a 45-degree angle, according to passenger Justin Scurbo. The ship was leaning so much that water from a faucet hit the wall instead of going down the drain. One indignant lady said that they were too frightened to stay in their cabin, as every time a wave hit their window, it sounded like a truck smashing into it, and they were afraid that it would break. They fled their room and sought shelter elsewhere.
Many people felt that there had been a lapse in judgment on the part of Royal Caribbean or the captain because the storm had been forecasted days before they ever left port. In fact, Washington’s National Weather Service had predicted winds of 46 to 57 mph and 23- to 31-foot seas for Sunday night right where the ship encountered the storm. Royal Caribbean did apologize to passengers, explaining that the storm was worse than predicted and that if they had known it was going to be that bad the captain would not have sailed.
God’s Word tells us, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:1212There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)). The Jamaican bus driver thought that “his way” was perfectly fine, but it ended in tragedy. Royal Caribbean and the captain of the Anthem of the Seas did not realize the seriousness of the storm that was predicted. And so it is with many folks —they do not realize that they are on the “broad ... way that leadeth to destruction.” Good works, following man’s traditions apart from God’s Word and putting off accepting the Lord Jesus as their own personal Savior can only end in “the Lord Jesus ... taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-97And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thessalonians 1:7‑9)).
Which Way Are You Headed?
Which path are you on? The broad way that leads to destruction, or the narrow way that leads to eternal life? “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-76Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:6‑7)).
Some people think they have lots of time to decide where they will spend eternity. Many, like the people mentioned in An Unexpected Way to Die, never know what hit them.