In the twenty-seventh chapter of the Acts we have the record of a shipwreck. The story is related towards the end of the book, and is full of significance. One point in the narrative we will dwell on—the courage of the Apostle Paul.
For some fourteen days the ship in which he was, had been driven by the storm, and when, at midnight, the sailors sounded, and found they were nearing shore, they feared falling on rocks. Then it was that the apostle, captive as he was, a prisoner among prisoners, on his way to trial before Caesar, took the lead and controlled, not only the ship’s crew, but the centurion and soldiers under whose charge the prisoners were. As, seemingly, death stared them all in the face, Paul so comforted their hearts that, when he took bread, they ate; and so fruitful was his courage, that the two hundred and seventy-six souls on board became of good cheer.
The secret of his calmness and courage was the word that had come to him at the angel’s hand from heaven:
“Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar; and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.”
He believed God, and, with this assurance, neither storm nor darkness; neither soldier’s counsel nor the danger of reaching land, occasioned him dismay. And, as the event proved, all that had sailed with Paul reached the shore safely, though the ship was lost.
Now in this day, when, like the ship in which Paul sailed, the Church of God seems to be “falling into a place where” the “two seas” of infidelity and superstition meet, let us hear the Word of God, which says,
“Fear not!” for there shall not be lost one true believer in these tempestuous waters, but they will come all safe to land—our eternal Home.
The “land” is in view, the everlasting shore appears, and soon the trials and the tempests shall be over for all who are Christ’s. And as that day is so near at hand, our privilege is to bid all who sail with us to be of good cheer, and to comfort their hearts, and to give them to eat. This is the most gracious occupation in a day of distress! An occupation followed by those who heed the voice of the Word of God, so full of comfort and rest to the hearts of true believers. His Word never changes, and He ever abides faithful, and while His Word clearly shows what our own day so painfully illustrates, the falling of the professing church into terrible unbelief, it speaks in unvarying assurance to each faithful heart.
Let us then be of good courage, and by a brave example, stimulate those about us to rest on His Word, and to be strong in His grace.