Acts 27:27-29 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. This is part of the sea voyage of Paul as he was being taken to Rome by a centurian named Julius, a centurion of Augustus’ band. He had charge of several prisoners going to Rome to be judged. A vicious storm came up for it was the season of storms. The captain of the ship thought he could beat the storms since it was a fair day when he made the decision to go to a “better” port for the remainder of the winter storm season.
Now this captain knew it was storm season, he knew that it would likely wreck his ship if he was caught in it, but he was beguiled into thinking he could make it. He wanted more luxury than where the ship was presently.
He looked on a beautiful day and made a fateful decision. Acts 27:12-13 “And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west. And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.”
He sailed into trouble for he thought he could make it. Now, folks, if we use this as a spiritual lesson, then the man thought he could cheat a little and win. He knew the warnings, but his desires overtook his common sense. That is the way sin works in our lives. The “soft south wind” lulls us into believing we can dabble in sin and not be hurt by it. Yet the storm is always on the horizon when we go against God’s known will for mankind.
Some of you will dabble with drugs or alcohol and think you will be ok. Your “friend” might be that lying soft south wind in your life. “Here try this!” Beware. Sin ruins everything in your life and might even take your life. Paul tried to warn the Centurian about the captain’s decision. Acts 27:9-11 “Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.”
Notice the Centurian ignored Paul’s advice which was Godly advise and believed the Captain who was thinking only of a “more comodious” place to spend the winter. God send people into our lives all the time to warn us about sin and the consequences of sin, yet we are lulled into a peaceful place by the “soft south wind” and do not believe them until it is too late.
When the storm comes we are not prepared for how bad it can really be. Mostly we think of storms as a hard rain with a little wind thrown in to bend the trees a little, yet we are safely within our house as it blows. These men were on a fairly small ship by today’s standards. The storm came and the ship could no longer be steered. Acts 27:14-15 “But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.”
We are never prepared for the destruction that sin beings and like these sailors, “we let her drive”. Running before the wind and tempest is not the way to escape. Many give up and just ‘let her drive” after they see they cannot control the sin they are involved in. They justify it by many methods.
The best excuse and the worst advice is “I’m only hurting myself.” The Bible tells us that we affect others by our choices in this life and even our death is relevent. Romans 14:7 “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.”
If a Christian is caught up in the deceifullness of the world of sin and the darkness of life comes upon them, there is still a method to recover yourself from that sin. “Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.”
They cast out four anchors and wished for light. Christians can get to a point when God’s light does not shine on them. Sin had destroyed the fellowship that they had with God. They do know what or where to go. Many times they are ashamed to go back to church, which is another lie of the devil, yet if you cannot go backm then throw out the anchors. I have named these anchors Salvation, Faith, Hope and Charity.
If you are saved, then God cares about you. Faith will allow you to find Him again. The Scripture gives us Hope and the love of God and our love for Him will finally bring us back to the right path. Do not just wish for the day…look for the light in Scripture. Allow your faith to bring you back to where you believe the Scriptures are truth and literally fall in love with the finished work of Christ again.
You’ll make it, but it will take effort on your part. You must be the one to understand that you are away from God and need to return. I read a quote that I like yesterday. “No matter how many steps you have taken away from God, it only takes one step to return.” Repentance.
