At 11:40 on the night of April 14, 1912, the giant Titanic felt the shock of its encounter with an iceberg. Several hours later, the world would be stunned when the news of the tragedy was announced by wireless operator John Phillips. Men who knew the sea and ships were quick to assess the damage inflicted on the “unsinkable ship.” Captain Smith had gone quickly to the bridge, and throwing open the door asked, “What have we hit?” The dreaded word, “ICEBERG,” no doubt sent a chill through the man who had sailed these waters for 38 years. Instinctively, he ordered the closure of the fifteen watertight doors and the sounding of the warning bell. Then he moved to the starboard side of his ship, but there was no iceberg to be seen. If only he had been on the bridge at the time of the mishap as his vessel was passing through the ice infested waters, possibly the accident would not have happened. Bruce Ismay, the Managing Director of the White Star Line, arrived on the bridge soon after Smith. He, too, had been wakened by the impact the ship had experienced and knew something very serious had happened. Soon he left the captain to conduct his own investigation. When Thomas Andrews, the Titanic’s designer and builder appeared, Ismay was informed the ship had suffered a 300-foot gash in the starboard side and that five of her watertight compartments were open to the sea. He would eventually inform Captain Smith the ship was beyond help. She was doomed, and that seemed impossible to the three men who knew the ship so well. The latest technology had been built into this monarch of the sea: a double steel bottom and sixteen compartments that could be sealed by the flick of a switch on the bridge. These features, along with recently introduced wireless telegraphy, all combined to making this safe ship safe. Sadly, the confidence of passengers and crew had been misplaced. The riveted steel plates and watertight compartments were no match for a monstrous North Atlantic iceberg.
Thomas Andrews knew the ship well. He had built her. Once he and Captain Smith had conducted their inspection, he informed Smith the Titanic was finished. The designer-builder knew the seriousness of the situation as no other. As we journey to the eternal shore, our Creator-God knows our sad and ruined spiritual condition.
We may try to allay our fears, as was attempted by some aboard the Titanic, but it won’t work. The vulnerability of the Titanic would eventually be known, as is man’s weakness and vulnerability to sin. It is in the Bible’s book of Romans chapter 3 and verse 23 we learn, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” It also states in Numbers 32:2323But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23) “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Man’s sin and weakness is known by himself and what is worse, known to God. In such a spiritual state we, like the Titanic, are unable to help ourselves. We, too, desperately need help. We need someone who can correctly assess our personal condition and take corrective action. In our spiritually-damaged state there is only One who can meet our need and His saving name is Jesus. The Apostle Peter said in Acts 423And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. (Acts 4:23) and verse 12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Sinners, damaged and ruined by sin need to be saved and, according to the Apostle Peter, the only One who can save them is Jesus (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)). He is the only One who can fit the lost for the eternal port called heaven.
The seriousness of the situation was readily realized by Smith and Andrews. Their ship was destined for the depths of the North Atlantic, but how soon they did not know. They did know there were 2,223 people aboard and only 1,178 places in the lifeboats. More than 1,000 would die. Although the existing standards of marine safety had been met, there were not enough places for all in the lifeboats. I am so thankful that when my Savior offers to save you and me, He has the necessary means of doing so. In the gospel of John chapter 3 and verse 15 this truth is very clear, “Whosoever believeth in Him (the Lord Jesus) should not perish, but have eternal life.”
It was soon after the collision that those on the bridge knew the results of the impact. Many of the passengers and crew, however, would not learn of their real danger until sometime later. Some had wondered what caused the shudder to pass through the ship at 11:40 that night, but they weren’t too concerned. Some thought the vessel had lost a blade from one of its huge twenty-three-foot diameter propellers, or that an anchor had been lowered. Harry Colyer was anxious to know the truth and so, to satisfy his wife’s curiosity, he made a quick trip around the deck. He returned to say they had struck an iceberg, but everything was all right. Hearing this comforting news, Mrs. Colyer lay back in her bunk and was soon fast asleep. She was asleep to her danger and that of all her fellow passengers.
Deep in the cavernous vessel, a seaman responded differently when he exclaimed, “Blimey, we’ve hit an iceberg.” His exclamation of concern was in sharp contrast to those who jokingly suggested they could use some of the ice which had suddenly appeared in the staircase to cool their drinks. To many, it all seemed like a big joke, but not to the men in the boiler and mail rooms. Soon after the awesome shearing, tearing sound, cold Atlantic water began appearing at their feet. As one seaman reported,
“She’s making water fast.” In one area, the water rose 4" in only 10 minutes. Loud hissing sounds signaled escaping air from tanks in the bow. Eventually, even those unlearned in the ways of the sea realized the situation was desperate. Even those who recently had gone back to their beds or drinks were now much more concerned, and fear was written on every face.
Many today on their voyage through life think all is well. They feel it is only the alarmist preacher who is sounding his words of warning who is concerned. But that is not the case. Our almighty God knows the danger of the spiritually lost like no other. Their dreaded position is more serious than the passengers aboard the Titanic. Many on board were about to lose their lives. The people who ridicule the God-announced danger of the spiritually lost are in danger of losing their souls for eternity. Aboard the Titanic were those who were sleeping on a sinking ship. Today there are those who are oblivious to their danger of rapidly passing time and the nearness of eternity. God, through His Word, sounds the warning note in Job 36:1818Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. (Job 36:18) which says, “Because there is wrath, beware lest He take thee away with His stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.” Every one of us needs God’s salvation and yet many are asleep to their desperate need. The question is asked in Hebrews 218For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18) and verse 3, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” There is no escaping God’s wrath if a person neglects God’s salvation.
Back on the bridge, Captain Smith had no time to think of what might have been. His immediate concern was for the safety of his passengers and crew for whom he was personally responsible. Lifeboats must be readied, crew and passengers awakened and, above all, panic was to be avoided.