October 9, 2009

Peacefully Headed for Destruction

The Titanic...we all know it as the ship infamously remembered for its maiden voyage. My husband likes to tell a story (his own) about that ill-fated night when she met her watery grave. It illustrates perfectly what we are doing when we witness to someone who is headed for eternal destruction in Hell.

What was the most loving thing to do on that night nearly 100 years ago? 
Can you think of the answer? Hopefully this little story will reveal it perfectly.

Imagine that you are one of the first class passengers on this grand and glorious ship. 
You have had a lovely evening meal and are cozily tucked into your soft, comfortable bed. 
The cabin is swaying with the movement of the ship and all is well. 
As you are dozing off into a peaceful slumber, there is a jarring of the entire ship 
and the movements cease. All is perfectly still. A loud knock comes at your door. 
How rude! The knocking persists, and now there are shouts of urgency.

"Get out! Up on deck! Hurry! No time to waste!"

You are inclined to ignore the pleas...
after all what could possibly need to be dealt with at this hour? 
You are warm and comfortable. Morning would be a better time to talk.
Soon you hear scurrying in the hallways. What could be the matter?
What is all the commotion about? You open your door just a crack and 
hear the other passengers chattering amongst themselves.

"Do you really think it is safe? Should we leave this ship? 
Are you sure the news is accurate?"
What news, you wonder?

Of course, we know the story and how it ended. 
That night only 706 souls were saved while 1,517 perished in the frigid Atlantic waters 
for lack of life boats or disbelief. For whatever reason, 
many felt they were safer to stay on board the Titanic. 
After all, it was the "unsinkable" ship! 

What foolishness to step into a tiny life boat in the middle 
of the dark night only to wait and hope for rescue. 
No, it would be best to remain on the unsinkable Titanic...or so they thought.

Do you see the comparison between this story 
and the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ?

In this life it is as though we are all sailing on the Titanic. 
We are doomed to destruction unless we get into the "life raft". 
We cannot save ourselves. No one can live the perfect life required by God. 
We are all sinful. Even one sin is enough to keep us out of Heaven 
and separated from God for all eternity. 

"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 

And because of sin death has come to every living thing. 
"For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life 
through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

The Lord Jesus Christ is the answer to our problem
We cannot make God accept us. We deserve Hell. 
Amazingly, He has provided THE WAY to be made right with Him.
 "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that,  
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 

It is like the Lord Jesus Christ is our life raft. He is the Son of God, not just a man, 
but fully God and fully man. But He lived as a man on this earth for His people, 
to live that perfect life we could not live and die the death we could not die...
to take all the punishment for our sins upon Himself.  To consume God's wrath.

That all who come to Him for salvation
 might be freed from the clutches of sin and death and Hell.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; 
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 
Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

The Lord Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the Law and 
we must turn to Him to be saved from our own sin and coming destruction. 
Not sink with the Titanic, if you will. Trust in His saving power. 
Confess your sin to Him and tell Him you are in need of the Saviour. 

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, 
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9

Don't trust in your own merits or righteousness...
that is like staying on the ill-fated Titanic, 
"...all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." Isaiah 64:6 
"As it is written, THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE." Romans 3:10

The most loving thing you can tell another living soul is the Truth. 
The Truth is that we are all doomed to eternal separation from God and punishment 
unless we repent and turn to Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord .

"...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." Acts 16:31

With Love, Camille

*image of the Titanic above may be subject to copyright*

13 comments:

aspiritofsimplicity said...

That is a great comparison.

Lori-here's a hand to hold onto said...

What a great comparison and perfect bible references. a great story,I wish it were on my blog.If you don't mind I'd like to link this post to my blog.

Camille said...

Welcome Hip Chick! Thanks for the encouraging words! :)

Welcome Lori! I would love it if you would link. Just click on the post title and that will give you the URL to copy...thanks for asking! :)

Blessings,
Camille

Christa said...

Hi Camille,
Thanks for sharing the gospel to all who come and read.

Blessings,

Christa

BTW, mission accomplished in your request on the soft pretzel comment.
:)
However, you will notice the comment was deleted since this was a top secret mission! :)
LOL!

Camille said...

You are so thoughtful Christa! Thanks so much!!!!
Blessings,
Camille

Bethany LaShell said...

What a great analogy! I love the layout of your blog :-). Thanks for stopping by my blog & leaving such an encouraging comment!
~Bethany L.

Camille said...

Welcome Bethany!

I appreciate your practical advice to people who want to become more organized...what a great idea! :)

I can't take credit for this analogy...it's my hubby...he is great at telling these sorts of stories! I asked his permission before I put it in print! ;-)

Blessings,
Camille

Anonymous said...

Thanks for stopping by my site and saying hello. It's nice to meet other christian women.

Camille said...

Thanks for stopping by Joyfull Mom! Glad you are encouraged by the blog party!
Blessings,
Camille

Farmgirl Cyn said...

Ooh, ooh, ooh...I LOVE this! As Paris Reidhead said, "No one can savingly receive Christ until they've repented. And no one can repent until they've been convicted. And conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit that helps the sinner to see that he is a criminal who deserves all of God's wrath and if God were to send him to the lowest corner of the devil's hell forever and 10 eternities, that he deserved it all. And 10 fold more. Because he has seen his crimes."

Camille said...

Welcome Farmgirl! :)

I so appreciate your enthusiasm for the story...your quote fits perfectly! We must see our NEED of the Saviour and that He is perfectly JUST in condemning us to eternal punishment...it is only by HIS GRACE that any of us are saved!

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Camille

Beth Herring said...

I just love this! What a powerful Word here today!

Camille said...

Welcome Beth! Thanks for your encouragement!
Blessings,
Camille