Going Against the Wind

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Acts 27:1-12

 

John 16:33

³³ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

(ESV)

 

Trouble is not something a sane person looks for in their life but according to John 16:33, something we should expect. The good news for those with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their savior is Jesus has overcome the world through his death burial and resurrection. A believer in Jesus Christ can have joy in trouble knowing it is temporary and a means of building character in one’s life (James 1:2-4). Unfortunately, for many encountering a challenge in life causes them to quit or run and as a result, businesses in the United States are having difficulty keeping employees because they quit when the work becomes difficult because they still receive money to live upon.

 

Paul’s ministry was full of challenges that could have caused him to quit and go back to being a Pharisee persecuting Christians. However, this was not an option for Paul for his focus was not on the problem but the overcomer, his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Now as he begins his journey to Rome in fulfillment of the word he received from the Lord in Acts 23:11, he finds difficulty as he is sailing against the wind (Acts 27:4). The delay caused by having to sail against the wind has caused them to miss the fast placing those on the ship in danger (Acts 27:9). Paul has a divine perception of this danger but when he mentions it, the Centurion ignores him and pays more attention to the pilot and owner of the ship. The delay in their voyage also means they are in a port not suitable for winter and set out to reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete that is more suitable for winter.

 

Going against the wind is nothing new for Paul since his conversion on the road to Damascus. As we have seen in this study of the Book of Acts, Paul’s custom when reaching a new city was to visit the synagogue first and reason with the Jews in the city that Jesus was the Christ from the Scriptures (Acts 17:2). This led to a riot in Ephesus and the Jews falsely accusing Paul of stirring up riots as a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes (Acts 19:21-41; 24:5). Now, on his journey to Rome, Paul faces contrary winds that cause delays in their journey in an attempt to get them to give up and head back to Caesarea, but Paul has had a visitation from the Lord, confirming he is going to speak to Caesar (Acts 23:11). However, the Lord has given Paul a perception that the journey will experience trouble (Acts 27:10).

 

As promised by the Lord, life will come with trouble, but Christians have an advantage for they have a personal relationship with the Lord who overcame death on the Cross and who sits at the right hand of God the Father (Romans 8:34). Covid 19 was trouble with a global impact that for churches meant they could not gather as mandated in Scripture (Hebrews 10:25). However, this did not shut down Churches for when things began to return to normal, Churches reopened because no weapon formed against the people of God will prosper or succeed (Isaiah 54:17).

 

The Church has a mission of sharing the Gospel and making disciples that goes against the wind of a dark world living in sin (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). These contrary winds will not go away and become stronger and why the Church must prepare through prayer, study, and meditation on the Word of God. For those reading this who have never prayed to make a profession of faith in Jesus as their Savior, I encourage you to do so by praying with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.