Paul, we believe under the leadership of the Holy Spirit of God, has cautioned a group of men NOT to sail any further toward Rome, not for a season.
He even went so far as to claim: “There will be hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.” Acts 23:10
But those men overruled Paul, who was after all merely a prisoner, for two reasons; comfort and cash!
Plus … “the south wind blew softly.” Such balmy breezes meaning (surely) that fair weather was ahead! (Acts 27:13)
They ignored a wise man of God’s suggestion, one with a pretty strong warning attached, due to what their eyes saw and their bodies felt! Gentle currents and warm temperatures.
Then barely one verse later, Luke the historian adds: (They stubbornly being at sea now … “Not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.”
No longer the soft winds … but now tempestuous ones! The name “Eurocludon” literally means “violent east wind!”
And the fierce storm ultimately destroys the ship, its cargo and nearly (but for the Grace of God) its crew!
“The ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind.” Acts 27:15
Then by verse 27: The rather large (for that day) ship “was broken with the violence of the waves.” Amazing!
The point of today’s Lesson: at times we should be wary of trusting the “soft, warm, balmy winds” of life! They may not be the best criteria on which to base our decisions!
Especially when we have some “leading” from the Lord to refrain from a certain action! (We do not live by sight, or by feelings … but by “the Word of the Lord.”)
They here misread the “soft south winds,” trusted the superficial issues of life … way too much!
An old Preacher I heard a lot in my youth used to say: “Hope for the best but plan for the worst!” Had these shipmates done so, as Paul hinted, the vessel’s owner would have been a lot better off! A lot wealthier!
Enjoy the balmy breezes … but be aware … the storm is coming! It always does!
That same old Preacher of yesteryear, wise and godly, often said this too: “Never sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate.”
Immediately this ship’s crew wanted comfort; a better harbor … but in the long run they lost nearly everything! Endangering their very lives!
Enjoy the pleasant circumstances of life … they often being gifts of God … but do not forget to prepare for the coming storm!
Wow!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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