Jottings

by J. Miller | Category: Jottings | Oct 1936

The words of Luke in Acts 27. 13-" supposing that they had obtained their purpose," have been running almost continuously through my mind yesterday and to-day. These words occur in the story of Paul's shipwreck. The purpose referred to was that of the master and owner of the ship in which Paul and his companions sailed from Myra on their way to Rome. The purpose was to leave what they thought was the uncommodious haven of Fair Havens and seek the shelter of the better harbour of Phoenix.

Paul had remonstrated with them of the danger to which they were exposing their vessel, its passengers and crew, and its lading, it being dangerous for shipping at that time of the year in that part of the Levant.

Paul's wise counsel was set aside and the centurion thought, no doubt, that a skilled mariner would know more of such matters pertaining to navigation than this wandering preacher, one of a number of prisoners whom he, under military guard, was conveying to Rome. Thus it was that they weighed anchor and set sail from Fair Havens on what proved to be a most disastrous voyage; yet it was a voyage in which the faith and hope of the Apostle shone clear amidst the darkness of the tempest. " I believe God" were words which rose above the hurricane, indicative of a faith which the storm could not shake or shift. Faith ever rides on an even keel on the stormiest sea, and sings its sweet lays in the teeth of the blast.

My mind turned from the sea and the shipwreck and I thought of other shipwrecks strewn along the shores of time. I walked on through the Scriptures viewing some of the wrecks and thought of their causes, for there are always causes attendent upon shipwrecks.

I thought of Lot. Once he lived a sheltered life in the shadow of Abraham's tent, knowing much of God's blessing and, no doubt, learning His will from the faithful Abraham; but the day came when he was asked to make his choice. He had been to Egypt, had seen the world, and acquired a taste for its things. Fatal to the believer is the taste of the grapes of Egypt and of Sodom; for the spiritual state of each place was much alike; and such, alas I will be the spiritual state of Jerusalem which will vet be

called "Sodom and Egypt" (Revelation ii. 8).

Lot would have the world and Abraham knew well that he could not hold his nephew back. The strife of the herdmen was incidental to the deeper thing, namely, the sad state of Lot's heart. The plain of Jordan with Sodom in the centre was Lot's choice, and so on he went till he reached Sodom's gate. He did not take the impious step all at once of going inside, but he goes near enough to look in and to be saluted by its inhabitants, but at length he enters, becomes a sojourner at first, then a citizen, and at last sits a full-fledged magistrate in the gate. But what is the end? It is but another case of supposing he had obtained his purpose. Abraham's tent was but a poor structure to winter in, he would have a more comfortable and commodious house; he must have a more secure dwelling, but, alas! fire consumed all and he himself was dragged out with his family by angelic hands-" saved, yet so as by fire." His was a sad case of shipwreck.

Let young believers be careful of the world and its allurements. It never offered greater bait than it does to-day. The god of this age is plying his arts and crafts with the consummate deceit of unrighteousness, but the world is ever, as it ever was, a menace to spiritual life.

Are its pleasures lasting? is its supposed security national or collective, safety ? its riches true gain ? Drink not of earth's poisoned wells, for the evil one has poisoned all its fountains. Think of Lot and pass on.

Joseph's brethren, too, thought they had obtained their purpose when in their hatred of rule they sold Joseph into Egypt. They would get rid of rule (for Joseph often brought the evil report of them to their father) by dispensing with God's chosen ruler. They would never bow to their brother. Some believers dislike both rule and rulers they want neither law nor restraint, and, alas those who tell the truth of their behaviour, these they can hardly bear with. But it is in their own hands to do better and to be well spoken of. Ahab said of the prophet Micaiah, I bate him, for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil" (1 Kings 22. 8). Who could have spoken well of Ahab, whose evil doing was notorious ! Micaiah, like Joseph, had to suffer, for he was cast into prison and fed with bread of affliction and water of affliction, for speaking the truth about the royal profligate.

Saul, the king of Israel, also thought he had obtained his purpose when he set aside the Lord's will and spared the best of the flocks and of the herds to sacrifice to Jehovah the God of Samuel in Gilgal, but he too made shipwreck-" Thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath

rejected thee from being king over Israel " (1 Samuel 15. 26).

What spoil he brought back-lowing herds and bleating flocks-he was a wealthy man truly, but think of the night before his death when he lay helpless on the floor of a witch's house. " So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the Loan, because of the word of the Lord, which he kept not; and also for that he asked counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire thereby, and inquired not of the Lord; therefore He slew him" (1 Chronicles 10. 13, 14). He rejected God's word and listened to a witch, but he thought that he had obtained his purpose when he made himself rich with the devoted thing.

Ahab sulked over Naboth's refusal to give him his vineyard, but Jezebel would soon satisfy her husband's whims. They would obtain their purpose even if faithful Naboth is put to death amongst false witnesses and unjust judges, but their possession of the vineyard was shortlived for the storm of divine judgement burst and swept away Ahab, Jezebel and all their house. The sin of covetousness, one of man's immoral members, which believers are to mortify, brought down judgement upon Ahab, and it will bring God's wrath upon all the sons of disobedience.

Judas, too, erred in the sin of covetousness. He would obtain his purpose; he would get money. If the Lord curbs his passion for riches by refusing him Mary's alabaster cruse, he will sell the Lord Himself to gratify his lust-fatal riches He thought he had obtained his purpose, but the thirty pieces of silver lost their glitter, and he came and cast them at the priests' feet in the temple, loathing the money he had loved. Never was there man more daring and never a wreck more terrible than in the case of Judas who rushed madly to a suicide's end.

Demas: what can we say of him? He forsook Paul at a time when he might have been a comfort to the aged Apostle, the prisoner of Christ Jesus; but he forsook him and went to Thessalonica. He loved the present evil age. Ah, the world again got hold of the prey. It drew Lot from Abraham and Demas from Paul; and many more, who were at one time friends and companions, who took sweet counsel together, has it separated. The Lord well said, "Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling" (Matthew 18. 7).

Many of God's children have taken its bait and been ensnared in its traps, oftentimes thinking that they had obtained their purpose.

All these and many more pass in review before the mind as we view some of the shipwrecks that strew the coasts of time.

But may we view one or two of the shipwrecks which have been in our days. The young brother goes abroad and sees a desirable young woman, but she is unsaved (or an unseparated believer); he forms a friendship which develops into courtship, then marriage takes place. All seems fair for a time and he supposes he has gained his purpose, for the south wind blows softly; but alas, in time the wind changes, adversity begins, and it is adversity as the result of perversity, and then at length the storm breaks. He battles on, but things do not improve and at length comes complete shipwreck.

The young sister, too, may think she has obtained her purpose by marrying an unsaved young man or one outside the Fellowship; she would lift him by her own efforts to her level and make him to see as she sees, but she has not reckoned that it is God alone who can quicken and raise up. She also learns to her cost that when the south wind blows softly it may be most deceiving, for we cannot do wrong with impunity. Our God is one who rewards each according to their works.

in all walks of life, in business or during relaxation, midst friends or foes, in the world or amongst God's people, let us seek to do what is right and not seek to cheat ourselves that we may do wrong yet in some way it will work out all right. Wrongs can never be righted but by repentance and forgiveness, and even though forgiven we may reap the fruit of folly afterwards all our lives on earth-we may by wilful disobedience to the truth and to counsel given make shipwreck, though at the beginning of the course try to make ourselves believe that we have obtained our purpose.

J. Miller | Oct 1936
Jottings