Monday, July 14, 2008

Shipwrecked

"Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked." 1 Timothy 1:19
Paul writes that there are some people that are no longer walking in faith, and he called it being "shipwrecked". This made me think about the conditions that happen when being shipwrecked. The first condition that would be necessary for a shipwreck,  is a storm or conditions in life that we would consider challenging. Just like the "Perfect Storm" when three major weather conditions collide over the Atlantic. The second condition that would need to happen is to have the weather overcome the ship and it lose control. Now, all sense of safety is now gone and one would need to face the elements and try to find safety elsewhere.  To have my faith be shipwrecked is to be out of safety and be lost. Faith is my ship that keeps me safe on the waters of life. Sometimes the waters are calm and sailing is smooth. But it is certain  that the storms will eventually come. During those storm conditions, it is important to stay in the ship of faith. When we try to do things our way, and we take things under our own hands, then you face the elements by yourself and may find yourself shipwrecked. How can we stay in our ship? We need to use the compass of our own conscience. We know right from wrong and the Holy Spirit that is within us, will give us those warning signals that tells us that we need to be careful, that we are drifting off course and there may be a dangerous reef ahead. Let us all watch ourselves and listen to our conscience and keep the faith under all circumstances. But if we do drift off God's course, we may find ourselves stranded and so far away from truth and God.
Question: Are you currently in storm conditions right now? How can you handle the next perfect storm in your life? Are you in need of a course correction today? How does this apply to you right now?

No comments: