Sailing

A man ventured to sail solo on a trip which would take him completely around the world. It was a contest and the feat had not yet been accomplished in the known world. The rules put him in a sailing vessel alone and he was never to touch land until the entire voyage was over. Others were making the attempt simultaneously; the first returning would receive a great amount of cash.

This man was a novice at seafaring challenges, yet proceeded at seeking financial backing to build an ocean-worthy vessel. The money came and he built his one-man sail boat. However the financing of others pressured him to sail at the earliest possible time so as to insure victory. He agreed to a time but it was premature, he would have to abandon certain desired features in order to insure enough time to compete and win.

He was leaving behind a wife and three young children to tackle his great adventure. He assured them he would return and that they would enjoy the financial windfall together. They reluctantly bid him adieu, and so he set sail.

Communication at this point in history was minimal, but regular reports could be given through old fashioned walky-talky type devise. Initial reports came back and the sailing was without major incidents. Actually the first month of an expected six month journey sailed fairly well –the boat was generally on-course and on time. Family and the curious monitored the progress back home, another month — all seemed well. At sea, our hero encountered various obstacles, breakages, rough sea, some storms. He became a bit discouraged and yet sailed on, communicating with special messages to his wife and children.

And then it happened, the boat was torn and would sink if not repaired. The self-made sailor would have to go ashore, so ending his quest at the prize money. He had no choice. It was over.

At this point our sea-torn opportunist took on a strange mindset. Fearing the disappointment of his family, the wrath of his investors, and public scrutiny or disgrace, the kind and moral family-man began to lie about his whereabouts. He painted for his peers a picture of ongoing success, never revealing to them his race-ending demise. He reported again and again false locations, never letting on that he had actually stopped sailing.

The sad but true story ends in tragedy as our subject never returns. No one knows for sure his fateful ending.

The Scriptures speak:

“Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.” Psalm 40:4 and Proverbs 19:9  “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.”

Very sad, this man who found that he must lie. Was it the disappointment of failing or the fear of facing his family? Was it the anticipated anger on the faces of his investors, or his sudden fall from potential hero to mere has-been? Did he despise the disgrace? O the reality of losing; of being a “loser.”

Beloved, answers are found in Christ. “He despised the shame.” Hebrews 12:2

The cross at his time brought only shame (most shameful of deaths, “yea, the death of the cross” Philippians 2:8). But Jesus despised that, in spite of the momentary shrinking from it, and did his Father’s will by submitting to it.”

Friends, Jesus exemplified the great quality of “meekness” which our sailor disregarded. Jesus submitted Himself to the Father’s plan, but our sailor demonstrated what resides in us all — a deceitful heart. Jeremiah 17:9

The worker whose load fell off his forklift, the Christian couple who slipped out a swear word when still courting– a lie is waiting to happen. A man discovering that his business practices are actually sin…

For Job has said, “I am in the right, and God has taken away my right; in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.”  Job 34:5-6 

Job’s friends assumed he was a liar. He had to be lying. Job despised the false evaluation. Nevertheless, who was to blame? In Job’s eyes only God could be blamed for allowing it. But no blame is to be found in God and Job knew this about Him, yet could not find peace in the bizarre events of his terrible plight. Sound familiar?

Lastly, Jeremiah watched his city go down and wept. Every person will have their day of reckoning. Let’s see Jesus example as the model. He hated the shame and yet submitted to the travesty of wrongful accusation and death. If we fail at our day of reckoning, just confess honestly to God, He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse. Love ya