Ferdinand Magellan sailed into the long body of water called a strait that would later bear his name. He was the Admiral of a small fleet of four ships. Five ships had originally left Spain months before, but one had been shipwrecked along the coast of South America. The Strait of Magellan is one of the stormiest parts of the world and connects its two largest oceans. The passage through the uncharted waters of this strait took thirty-eight days and was very difficult. It took all the skill the sailors could muster to navigate the ships along the dangerous coasts. At night, from the decks of the ships, the sailors would often see the campfires of native people. So they called the tip of South America, “Tierra del Fuego” or the “Land of Fire.” The going got so tough that one of the ships’ captains lost his courage, and without telling anyone, he turned around and headed back to Europe. This desertion really hurt the little fleet because his ship held a large part of the food stores for the entire fleet.
After thirty-eight days of constantly worrying about shipwreck because of contrary winds, rocky coasts, dangerous currents and bad weather, Magellan and his fleet entered into a broad expanse of calm water. The horizon stretched out endlessly before them. Every sailor in the fleet felt a tremendous sense of relief. The great water looked like easy sailing compared to the strait they just left behind. Magellan gave this great ocean the name “Pacific.” (“Pacific” means “peaceful” in Spanish. Perhaps if he had known the difficulties which lay ahead of him as he was to cross this ocean, he might have named it differently!) He thought he had no more than two or three days’ sailing before he would reach the fabled “Spice Islands.” Little did he know that he had just entered the world’s largest ocean that covers nearly one third of the globe. Crossing it, his ships would be pushed to the limit of their endurance. Scurvy and starvation would claim the lives of many of his crew before they would sight land again.
Even though Magellan died during the around-the-world journey and never returned to Europe, historians give him credit as the man most responsible for the first circumnavigation of the globe. We may never personally discover a great ocean and be given the honor and privilege of giving it a name, but God wants each one of us to make a great discovery which brings us true and lasting peace. He wants us to discover that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Creator of the world, God and Man in the same person, died for sinners and has obtained the gift of eternal life for all who would believe on Him. When souls lay hold of this great truth for themselves, they discover “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:77And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)).
The Pacific Ocean is immense, and the peace that comes from knowing God is immense too! In this life every believer is entitled to know that his sins are washed away by the blood of Christ. “The blood of Jesus Christ His [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). This cleansing is so thorough that believers may have perfect peace with God. “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)). They are certain to face trials and difficulties as they travel through life, but they may face them with the assurance that God is for them and that “all things work together for good to them that love God” (Rom. 8:2828And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)).
In the life to come, every last thing that could ever cause sin, strife or distress will be forever removed. Those who enter into heaven through faith in Christ will enjoy never-ending peace. The Pacific might cover a third of the globe, but the “peace” in heaven will stretch out for eternity. Nothing will ever mar that peace. Believers will only be there because “He was wounded for our transgressions....The chastisement of our peace was upon Him” (Isa. 53:55But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)) when He hung on the cross. The discovery that “Christ died for our sins” (1 Cor. 15:33For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (1 Corinthians 15:3)) has the potential to bring so much good into a person’s life that it is the greatest discovery anyone journeying through life could ever make.
Nothing in the world can bring a lasting peace into your life except faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. People might think they will find peace if they obtain a certain level of financial security or recognition, but money cannot redeem a soul from eternal death, and the favorable opinion of other men will never keep them out of hell. The Lord Jesus is willing to do both for you the moment you believe on Him. Sinners can find peace in no other way. “Peace 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 14:2727Peace 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)).
Come to Christ by faith and accept Him as your Lord and Savior. When you stand on the shores of heaven and see an eternity of peace, love and joy stretched out before you, you will never be sorry you did.