Shipwrecked but not Destroyed

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Acts 27:39-44

 

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[a] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

(ESV)

 

God has a plan for each of our lives and while world events may seem to shipwreck these plans, God is not surprised at world events. Since 2020, the world has experienced a global pandemic that has devastated economies and many lives. In the United States, it was a contentious election that remains under investigation. Now with the fall of Afghanistan, the threat of terrorism looms large in the minds of many, and with the wide-open southern border in the United States, and the possibility terrorists may already be in the country planning their next attack. However, those of us having faith in Jesus as our Savior need not have troubled hearts for God is in control, promising a bright future (Jeremiah 29:11; John 14:27).

 

The Apostle Paul is a great role model of someone having faith in Jesus as his Savior experiencing trouble and not wavering in his faith (2 Corinthians 11:16-33). Acts 27:39-44 is an account of one of Paul’s shipwrecks, designed by the enemy to keep him from speaking in Rome. Paul’s speaking in Rome is not part of his plan but part of God’s plan for his life (Acts 23:11), and why no shipwreck will keep him from his divine appointment in Rome.

 

In addition received a promise from the Lord that lives would be spared with only the loss of the ship (Acts 27:22). However, there is one more effort to kill Paul before getting to Rome by the soldiers who wanted to kill the prisoners before abandoning ship and heading for land (Acts 27:42). Thankfully, God uses the centurion to spare the life of Paul and the other prisoners on the ship with everyone arriving safely on land (Acts 27:43-44)  

 

In the upper room discourse, Jesus told his disciples they would have trouble in this world with the promise He overcame the world, something Jesus would do on the Cross, conquering death by His resurrection (John 16:33). The life of the Apostle Paul epitomizes a believer experiencing persecution for his faith yet not wavering from his mission of spreading the Gospel message. Even though Paul is now shipwrecked he is not destroyed and will make it to Rome (Acts 27:39-44).

 

World events such as Covid 19 represent shipwrecks for the Church but need not destroy it. Churches were able to function while exiled to shipwreck due to shutdowns with an online presence and able to begin resuming getting together as the threat of Covid19 reduced. There may be more shipwrecks for the Church and believers in Christ, but they need not destroy us for we have a blessed hope in Jesus Christ and eternity with him. May God bless and challenge everyone reading this post.