The master is in the boat
The toils of living on earth is beginning to get, to many, and you may be one. Some of us worry so much about tomorrow that we neither appreciate the sunshine, joy nor learn from the errors of today. God is a Spirit (John 4:24) and his eyes are watching over all he created. There is no secret hidden from him. Life’s journey is as a man sailing on the ocean of life. You neither created the boat or the ocean but you must sail in your boat, when once you come to earth. When sailing is all fine and great, with lots of sunshine and good catches (blessing and good success) in the waters, your heart seems calm. The days are predictable, the sun would rise, the sea is calm and the winds blow softly. Nothing seems to go wrong and you love your quiet. Sometimes our lives look that way; we are so comfortable that nothing seems to matter. People meet almost all our needs. It is calm and the boat of life is sailing great.
But then the little storms of life begin to rock the boat, you say this is unusual; because it has always been fine. Suddenly, you lost your job and searched for another and it was all promises. You are running out of cash and have no savings. Friends begin to thin out and you may begin to avoid family members. The storms of life come unexpectedly, and this happens to be one. Remember, Job in the Bible and the storms that confronted him and he lost all, (Job 1:1-22), and his wife said unto him, “Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die,” (Job 2:9). May be it is a good idea to examine the life of other people, who are sailing or have sailed on this ocean of life. It is best to start by studying Heb. 11:1-40. When the Master is in the boat, He may rebuke the wind and bring calmness, He may encourage you to be of good courage or He may allow you to face the wreckages of a ship wreck. In all, remember that the Master was in the boat also.
You may be lonely, in prison or in a hospital bed; it is all part of the storms on the ocean of life that you are sailing on. If you have Jesus Christ in your life, then you are not alone: for He said, I will never leave you nor forsake you, (Deut.31:6 and Heb.13:5). Also Matt.28:20, “Lo, I am with you always even to the end of the world.” If you do not repent and accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord you do not stand a chance with the devil. John the Baptist and Stephen in their journey on the ocean of life, met cruel judgment; but the Master was in the boat, showing Stephen angels and the Son of man sitting at the right hand of God, as they were stoning him. As they were stoning him the Master was showing him things about his new home. The believer is sailing home, for earth is not our home.
Job despite the negative things that confronted him, including his integrity before men; he never doubted if the Master was in the boat while traveling on the ocean of life. At his lowest moment in the ocean of life, all abandoned him, but He trusted the Master. He confirmed his trust in the Master in Job 13:15, when he said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” Job never doubted the word of God. In his journey of life he was confident that all things worked together for his good, (Rom. 8:28). He was confident that the Master was in the boat with him; for the Lord said, I am with always. Also in Acts 27.1-44, you will see Paul in one of his boat of life situations and the Lord was with him in the boat. The Lord assured him it would be alright even when the natural boat they were sailing on was wrecked; the real spiritual boat in which he was sailing on the ocean of life was intact, because the Master was in the boat. Remember the story of the, “Foot prints on the signs of time.” He thought he was working on his feet but actually the Master was carrying him. Sometimes the Master works overtime carrying us when we seem to have given up. My grace is sufficient for thee, the Lord told Paul in one of his storms, in the boat, on the ocean of life, (2nd Cor. 12:9).
In Acts 7:54-60, Stephen stood before the council, the crowd of accusers and the chief priest; and answered for charges made against him concerning the gospel. During his defense he spoke so much starting from their history: “When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly (from his boat of life) into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And said, behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” Jesus showed Stephen that He was aware of what he was going through and showed him things of eternal dimension; to let him know that “I AM” was in the boat with him. The crowd in verse 57-58, “Cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him, ——- They stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Because the Master was with him in the boat, not matter the stoning; as they stoned God gave him revelations and peace even to pray for his detractors. The peace of mind to pray for those stoning him, showed the Prince of peace was with him, and gave him the peace of God that passeth all understanding. The peace of God is the evidence that the Master was in Stephen’s boat. When you are going through rough times and the devil is on the attack, remember the word of God and his promises (Psalm 119:49); and peace will come over you with joy, because it is the evidence that the Master is in the boat. It can never sink and there will be calm. Even if he decides to take you home like Paul, Stephen, James the brother of John the beloved, John the Baptist or any of the apostles, there will be peace as an evidence that the Master was with you in the boat. Even when you are in prison or sick in the hospital or lonely, always remember the words of Jesus Christ (when I was sick and in prison) in Matt. 25:33-46. You will know that in all your situations, Jesus Christ is with you, from the moment you repent and accept Him as your Lord and Savior. No matter the storms of life that come your way in the boat on the ocean of life, be assured that the Master is always by your side. Faith in the word of God will sometimes make you see Him in your boat.
Today, even as you sail on, troubles and trials will come your way. Sickness, hunger, uncertainties, false brethren, traitors and much more will come across your path. The devil uses such things to bring you discouragement, depression, doubt and much more. But meditate on the word of God always, remembering his promises that can never fail, then peace and joy will begin to flood your soul; knowing that the Master is in the boat of life with you. Confidence in Christ Jesus brings heart rest.
119 – The master is in the boat