Thursday, September 23, 2010

THE SHIPWRECK OF FAITHLESSNESS!

1 Tim 1:18-19 KJV

18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

In Paul’s day travel by ship was the most common mode of transportation over large distances and could actually be luxurious by their standards. But travel by ship was subject to the dangers of weather and poor navigation and Paul chose the word “shipwreck” in verse 19 because the wreck of a ship at sea was one of the greatest disasters known at that and perhaps because he had personally fallen victim to it.

The 27^th chapter of Acts is an exciting story of sea danger and, while it is hard to cut a few verses out of such a story, the following will give you a taste of the drama.

Acts 27:40-41 KJV

40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.

41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

1. HOLD ON TO FAITH!

Faith offers no substance nor evidence yet Paul says to hold on! The conflict of the present and the confusion of the future whip us as surely as the winds, yet faith provides the sure passage to the far shore. Faith is the persuasion of the mind that a certain thing is true. It is of no practical use without trust. Believing will do no good unless we commit ourselves by trusting to the foam of the sea of trouble. Without trust we stand as observers on the near shore. With a firm reliance on a God we believe is real and trust in His providence we commit ourselves to the sea of circumstance.

2. HOLD ON TO A GOOD CONSCIENCE!

Mr. Vine says that “conscience” is “a knowing with.” It is counsel with oneself and it is the faculty with which we discern the will of God. Conscience produces guilt when we violate a law or decide against reason. This same conscience assures us that a chosen way is right by condemning the bad and commending the good. By developing a sense of the presence of God we gain moral control of our actions. Hold on to a good conscience!

Titus 1:15-16 KJV

15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Dear Lord, let me hold steadfastly to my faith and listen carefully to my conscience that I may be safely carried to the far shore. AMEN