Was Jesus off the boat?

"The only plan that never changes is the plan for plans to change.”

Sometimes things don’t quite go as planned.   You chart a course… pack your rations and set out.

You are hopeful, excited.  You have purpose.  You believe that He is with you, guiding you.

Even when storms come… you are certain you will weather it… that you will get through.

You remember the story of the stormy sea and the Sleeping  Savior… the whisper that calmed the crisis.

When the waves come you enjoy the ride.

Sometimes.

Sometimes you go into the trip the way Paul did.  Yes, Paul.  The one who met the One on a dusty road and never stopped riding.

“Men, I perceive that his voyage will end with disaster, and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” Acts 27:10 emphasis added

Pretty ominous.  I wouldn’t put this in the “most encouraging verses” category by any stretch.  Sounds like Paul thought Jesus was off the boat.

But these were the words of the apostle to his traveling companions as they set out to Rome.

Have you ever had a “Paul” put a damper on your journey?  Tell you that it wasn’t going to go well? Bring you down… hold you back… rather than build you up and watch you go?!

I have.  And truth be told, sometimes,  the nay-sayers could have quoted Paul when he pulled the classic Biblical “I told you so.”…

“Men, you should have listened to me…” v. 21

Paul’s perception was that this was not the best plan.  And his perception was pretty keen… albeit short sighted.  He was a man like you and me and sometimes he got emotional. Sometimes he let his experience in life trump his experience with Life.  I find comfort in that.

He had to revise his statement…

“And now I urge you to take heart, for their will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.” V 22

Yes… they would be shipwrecked… and thankfully… there would be no loss of life.   

But the biggest thing… the whole reason for the shipwreck… the purpose behind the plan that didn’t go as planned shows up in chapter 28 verse 9…

“So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed.”

Paul would have stayed in “Fair Havens.” (27:8)  He would have waited for good weather.  He knew he was going to Rome.  God had told him.  But God wanted him to move now.  He wanted to use him NOW.

Sometimes God uses storms and shipwrecks to get you where He needs you to go… to bring you where He wants you to be.

If you are riding out a storm right now… if you are in a ship on rough waters… if it seems that Jesus is off the boat and you are left to the waves…

Take heart…

Where you land may not seem like where He wants you… but it is where He wants to use you.
SDG