“When my ship comes in” —it is an appealing thought, isn’t it? Probably most of us have sometimes enjoyed thinking of that mysterious ship bringing in unexpected riches — a legacy, a “find,” a bonanza — how truly “human” the thought is, unlikely though it may be and how against our common sense. But the natives of some of the islands of the South Seas were just overwhelmed by the ships they saw. In the days of World War II, when the United States went all out to win the “war in the East,” enormous quantities of materials, both for war and for the necessities of daily living, were rushed to the war zones.
In the islands of the East there was much that was new and unknown by the native peoples; they were rushed from a very primitive lifestyle into the latest of technology, and so much of it! It was no wonder that they were sometimes confused by all that they saw. Then the natural questions rose: Why do these people have so much, and we have so little? It’s not fair!
Soon they became convinced that they were equally worthy, and so, of course, soon ships should be steaming to the ports so hastily built for the war with equally wonderful cargoes for them. They stopped working (which is easy to do in a tropical land) and awaited the arrival of their “cargo ships.” So the Cargo Cult was born.
It is possible that there are some even today who are still waiting for their ships to come in with a rich “cargo” for them. They are not alone in their fantasies; many, many people are hoping to see “their ship come in,” and sometimes it does! Seldom, though, does it bring a cargo of blessing. Recently a young man won the lottery: His ship came in!
Immediately following the “ship,” hordes of people came trying to get a share of the money. So many fortune seekers came that the original recipient was heard to say, “I wish I’d never won!”
Worse was to come. A “trusted friend” was so hungry for that money that he connived to get it, and then, to cover his theft, he murdered the man who trusted him. A sad, sad ending.
The Bible warns us of the danger of riches, but it also encourages us to have our treasure in heaven. Does that mean new cars? Bigger houses? Better jobs? Basically, money? No, no, NO!
The promise is for true riches, riches laid up for us in heaven, where there is neither “moth nor rust,” and thieves cannot “break through nor steal.”
Isn’t that immeasurably better than “waiting for a ship,” no matter how rich its “cargo” in material possessions? That eternal richness is accompanied by eternal life — life forevermore — and even everlasting pleasures. It is no wonder that God asks, “Why will [you] die?”
WHY?