The Storm (Part 2)

Acts 27: 21-26

“21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss. 22 I urge you now to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24 and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor; and indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. 26 But we will have to run aground on some island.”

No one likes to be told, “I told you so.”  This seems like what Paul was doing, but when he said “You should have listened to me,” he was in the process of reminding them that God was with them, and that they would survive the storm, even though the ship would be lost.  Paul was giving them the insight that God had given him.  

God told Paul how the storm would end and Paul gave this information to the people on the ship.  The ship would sink, but no one would lose their life.  The crew, who had been fearful, now knew the end of the story and should have taken great comfort in Paul’s words.  But we will see that they did not.

Christians should know the end of their own personal stories (they will be with God) as well as the story of the culmination of time (Revelation 21).  Because we know the end, we should be the most joyful people on the face of the earth.  In the end, we are with God where there is no more pain, no more tears, no more suffering, no more death.   

But, in this life, we are doubtful, we are fearful, and we are angry….because of the storm.

Instead, let us celebrate.  God is with us in the storm.   And we know how the story ends.

Praise God!

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)