Still in the storm

As some of you know, I’ve been in the middle of a storm. I’m still there.

It’s going to be interesting to see what develops over the next 6 to 12 mos. in our personal lives, our nation and economy. Due to the downturn in the construction market, my perspective may be a bit skewed. I’ll admit that. It seems that Oregon is always the first state in and the last one out during tough economic times. So, I may just have a locally skewed perspective.

However, there are a LOT of people without jobs in our area right now. Over the past several weeks I have received many calls from men out of work, looking for work. I’m even getting resumes sent to me by folks looking for jobs, which is not normal. I can’t help them.

Not everyone is hurting, so I need to make sure I keep perspective. Why, I was talking to one of the local Pastors the other day and he made sure to point out his brand new silver luxury sports car to me, an Infiniti no less. Word to the wise Pastors, you probably shouldn’t be flashing your brand new luxury cars or toys in front of folks that you know are going through tough times financially. But I digress.

It seems to me that so many people are experiencing hardships and trials on many different fronts right now. Has anyone noticed this, or, is just me? Maybe I’m just getting old. However, it really makes me wonder, “What the heck is going on here?”

I was reading the account of Paul’s third missionary journey this morning from the book of Acts and garnered some solace from the account. Luke recounted the many difficulties Paul faced in reaching the ultimate predestined place the Lord had for him, namely, Rome. The road and seas there were fraught with many trials, persecutions and hard choices. However, in spite of it all, there were also many victories, sweet times of fellowship, encouragement among the brethren and awesome displays of God’s power along the way too. Now, in reality, I’m no Paul. I certainly haven’t been called to testify in chains before the Emperor of Rome. And my circumstances aren’t even close to those Paul experienced. However, there are most definitely some principles of perspective I can gain from reading this account.

I especially noted the part of their journey recorded in Acts 27 when they set sail from Myra in Lycia on an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy. Luke records the following:

“We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.”

That passage seemed to jump out at me, especially the words:

• Sailed slowly
• Number of days
• With difficulty
• Wind did not allow us to go farther
• Coasting along

After many days of this, the Captain docked in a place called Fair Havens.

I thought, man, that describes to a tee exactly what I’m going through right now. Luke records, “And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.” Some have speculated that they were already experiencing cyclone like winds by the time they initially set sail.

Paul’s warning to the Centurion was to remain docked in Fair Havens, because much time had passed and the natural conditions of the season would only worsen, also, the ‘fast’ was over and Paul had a clear warning from the Lord to remain in that Harbor. However, the Centurion gave more credence to the words of the Captain, then to Paul’s words. The consensus was that the harbor was not a suitable place for the winter. The sailors and passengers wanted to ‘get on with their journey.’

I can just hear some wives saying, “what did I do to deserve to get stuck on this ship? Let me off!”

Paul’s warning was, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” However, in spite of this warning they set sail again. I thought to myself, I wonder if God is trying to tell me something? Fair Havens may not seem a suitable harbor for the winter mos. of my life, however, is what happened to them where I’m heading?

“Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore.” Ahhh, that deceptive gentle south wind! The trial is over! No need to give heed to the word of the Lord! Let’s head on out! Talk about jumping out of the frying pan into the fire!

“But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship’s boat. After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along. Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. And on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.”

Yep, I’m convinced God is trying to tell me something!

We know the rest of the story. They threw everything, including the wheat over board, anything to lighten the load of the ship! There was a group of men who under false pretense were going to abandon the rest, but God would have none of that! Paul said in essence, we’re all going to be saved together by going down together! And the ropes were cut! What a story! Of course we know that many days lapsed and they all remained in suspense and despair of their ultimate fate.

But God!

Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island.”

I was so encouraged by the reading of those words. God is faithful. Despite of the circumstances, God’s sovereign will superintends every hardship and seemingly impossible trial we face. In spite of the fact that they suffered the loss of all temporal things, God sustained their lives and wrought many miracles through the proclamation of the gospel on the island of Malta. God already knew what the Captain of the ship was going to do when he failed to heed the words of Paul. God had a plan. And it entailed a lot more than just getting Paul to Rome!