Acts 27:32 So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away. -KJV
Formerly being in the Navy, I can't tell you to much of the effects of a major storm or a hurricane. I was in the submarine force. During one deployment close to Guam we hit typhoon Paka in 1997. First a submarine is a round cylinder and is not made to stay on the surface, so during these storms we would dive beneath the waves. However even at a depth of 200 to 300 feet below the surface the waves above us was still causing us to shake.
So I cant imagine how Paul and these sailors felt. Their ship was at the mercy of the sea. No one driving, lost with out any star to gain a refference from and the only light for their ship would be the occasional lightning bolt accross the sky.
I can't say exactly how I would actually be in such a situation, but one thing for sure, I would be scared for my life and maybe even frantic.
From the tone of the passages I read in acts 27, many of the crew felt this way, even to the point that they would want to leave a much bigger boat to get into a smaller boat to save their life. Common sense would tell you if the bigger boat isnt gonna make it, the little life boat isnt gonna make it either. However during such a storm and the stress on these men, I can understand their desperate need to try and do something instead of waiting and doing nothing.
Paul said these men must remain on this ship, they must stay on board or you cant be saved. At this they believed Paul and cut the ropes to the life boat. These men was about to jump ship to the life boat which would have lead to their deaths.
This is modern day Christianity. Infact many people are on this same ship (spiritually) fighting through many storms in life. Their faith wanes as each wave strikes them, and during such a storm they contemplate lowering the Life Boat. Storms test us and stretch us, but these storms will not last forever, eventually the clouds will part and the (SON) will shine through.
It also reminds me of the statement " The grass is greener on the other side". People abandoning their relationships with Christ Jesus and getting into a small boat of appeasing traditions and doctrines that will not be sound, but will soothe their itching ears.
Many so-called theologies out there are nothing but lies sprinkled with a little bit of truth. They look appealing to the eye, yet deadly filled with poison. One must search for themselves and seek the Guidance of God in this situation. We need to ask for a Spirit of discernment to help us understand what is right and what is wrong.
There are many things that come against a believer during their years of walking with Christ Jesus in a relationship, and some of these are very tempting to lure us away from such a great relationship but I believe what Paul declared to be just as valued today as the words he spoke back then "STAY ON THE SHIP".
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