Acts 27:31
“Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.”
Paul was a prisoner headed for Rome. The only way to get to Rome was to take the prisoners by ship. Before they started the journey, Paul warned the centurion that the journey would have “hurt and much damage.” Yet, because the shipmaster said it would be fine, they centurion forged forward in the journey.
It was not long after the warning that they found themselves in a great storm. The winds were so strong that they could not control the ship, so they let the winds of the storm drive them to wherever they led. The storm was bad and they found themselves approaching land, and for fear of the ship hitting rocks they considered jumping ship. When Paul perceived that they considered killing the prisoners and try swimming to land, he said, “Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.” His warning was that the ship was their protection, and if they jumped ship they would encounter greater damage.
Oftentimes in the journey of the Christian life, we encounter great storms that seem to shake our faith in what we are doing. It is during these times that we must determine to stay in the boat of faith and endure the storms. Stephen encountered the storm of persecution, but he stayed in the boat and never forsook the faith. Peter faced the storm of persecution, but he stayed in the boat and never forsook the faith. Paul certainly faced the storms of accusations, beatings, imprisonment and eventual death, but he never forsook the faith.
Let me remind you that the faith was right before you encountered your storm, and it is still right while you go through the storm. Storms don’t change the faith, they simply reveal the strength of our faith. If the smaller storms of life cause you to jump ship, then you will never be able to stay in the boat when the greater storms of life come your way. You must always remember that when the seas of life were peaceful you didn’t question your faith, so why would your faith change just because you are in the midst of storms? Your faith was right before the storm, and it is still right now that you have encountered your storm.
Furthermore, you have come too far to turn around. When I was learning to fly planes, my instructor told me to never turn around in the storm because turning around may cause you to go through it a second time. When you consider how long you have been in the storm, you will realize you have been in it too long to turn around. People don’t question their faith at the beginning of the storm, but they question their faith when the storms never seem to cease. Paul and his shipmates had been in the storm for fourteen days, and that was why they were considering jumping ship. The boat of faith has not failed you for the length of time you have been in the storm, so it’s safer to stay in the boat of faith than to jump ship for the world.
Christian, I don’t know what you are facing today, but you must determine not to jump ship no matter how severe your storm may be. Let me encourage you to stay in the boat. Your faith has brought you this far, and it will take you to your desired destination. Don’t let the storms of life shake your faith; rather, let them strengthen your faith by staying in the boat and trusting God to bring you through.