I’ve been thinking a lot recently on Acts chapter 27. I believe it contains some very relevant realities to what different people are going through or dealing with in their lives right now (or will be). I also want to share this to give hope to two specific kinds of people: those who through no fault of their own, but because of the choices of others, are (or who soon might be) caught in a “storm” (experiencing consequences because of others decisions); and also those who through their own choices are about to (or are) experiencing and reaping the consequences. Both kinds of people in situations like this can feel hopeless and discouraged. I hope this article will provide needed hope and encouragement to both kinds of people.
Acts 27 is the chapter where the apostle Paul and some other prisoners are being taken by boat to Rome. God had told Paul that just as He had faithfully testified of Jesus in Jerusalem, so now he was to testify of Jesus in Rome…even before Caesar himself! Acts 27-28 is a record of the journey to Rome.
But here’s the thing: God told Paul he was going to Rome…but how Paul got to Rome (and what happens in between) turns out to be nothing as would be expected. He is taken as a prisoner not put in “first class.” (However, God does cause the centurion over him to show him favor/mercy). But then when they set sail, they face things such as the wind being against them (Acts 27:4), making slow headway for many days, having difficulty getting to where they were going (Acts 27:7), the wind not allowing them to hold their charted course (Acts 27:7), moving along with difficulty (Acts 27:8), losing much time getting to where they needed to go (Acts 27:9) and sailing becoming dangerous because of the time of year they were now in that was not conducive to voyage (Acts 27:9).
Everyone living in this world can relate to these realities regardless of whether you are a believer in Jesus or not. We all contend with the complexities and difficulties of life. Things don’t always go as planned or expected. We struggle at times: the “wind” seeming to be against us. Often those who have their own business experience seasons of frustrations were they have difficulty making progress or have to change from their charted course because of variables outside of their control. Sometimes we even find ourselves in flat our dangerous situations, through no fault of our own, but due to unexpected and uncontrollable realities.
But notice the “great” apostle Paul is also going through the same realities! He is on the same boat as the other guys. I believe there are many faithful men and women of God who feel in this same place. God promised you one thing, but how things are unfolding are not at all what you expected. I think we often have a glamorized version of the Christian life…or ministry (serving the Lord) itself. We also seem to have a distorted understanding of the blessing and favor of God. Rather than realizing the favor of God results in all kinds of opposition and difficulties…we think it exempts us from opposition, challenges and difficulties. But there are seasons where we are hindered, delayed, move along with difficulty, have a hard time getting to where God has called us to go…and things even getting downright dangerous.
In fact it was at this point that the apostle Paul speaks up: “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.”
Paul somehow perceived that if they continued on as planned, without factoring in the present realities, the ship would be destroyed and they would lose their lives. They were going to have to make some changes in other words to their initial plans.
I believe many people are at this same crossroads right now, perhaps business wise, but also in our personal lives and certainly within a lot of the church world. If we just continue on the way we are going, there are going to be serious consequences. In some cases, I believe the consequences are already setting in or starting.
Unfortunately, despite this warning from the man of God on their boat, it says: “But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.
The “professionals” and majority and your “companions” are not always right. Just because people affirm what you are doing, does not mean what you are doing is right. We have to be careful to listen to the right counsel…godly counsel. The counsel of Scripture. Also realize that the majority usually favors just “sailing on” as is, rather than making real changes. Churches every day for example are dying or shutting down because the members refuse to repent and change. People’s lives fall apart because they refuse to repent and change. People literally forfeit their souls for eternity and perish because they refuse to repent and be “changed” (converted). The warnings of the Spirit, through men and women of God go unheeded and we hold our present course in our stubbornness and stiff-neckedness. The counsel of Scripture goes unheeded and unread.
Interestingly it goes on to say that initially: “When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.”
How true is this! Often people are deceived by signs that appear to be in their favor, confirming to them that they made the right call and have “obtained what they wanted.” There can be an initial and temporary sense of relief and happiness that can be very deceptive when the wrong choices are made. People leave churches and feel a “relief” and even have “evidence” (signs) that appear to be in their favor and justify that decision. You can see it in people who divorce, there is that initially “relief” and even “joy” and certain things that happen that appear to be in their favor and deceive them into thinking they made the right choice. You see it in people who cave into sin. They have been in a battle for a while, struggling with their flesh to not give in, but finally they succumb and there is that initial “relief” as sin is pleasurable…for a season. You see it in people who constantly move or go from job to job, each time thinking that a change of circumstances will change their life. Initially and temporarily things do seem to improve for them or go in their favor. This can even reinforce a spirit of pride in people in almost mocking or gloating that they were right…and the warnings issued by Scripture or the men and women of God were wrong.
But then we read this…”Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the “northeaster,” swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.”
“Before very long…”
“We took such a violent battering from the storm…”
“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.”
I am sure as I write this that many people are in the “lull” before a furious storm is about to come and everything fall apart due to their choices…and they blindly do not even realize it. Or perhaps like Paul, you perceive it is coming because of others decisions…and you know it’s going to affect not only them but you and those around them.
I am sure as I write this that many other people are in that “storm” already that has suddenly come out of the blue and you are beginning to experience the consequences of your decisions or others decisions.
Remember the apostle Paul is on this boat too. He tried to issue a warning but the others did not heed the warning. He is now suffering the consequences of the others decision. This is similar to Jonah in the OT, except this time the roles are reversed! The man of God (Jonah) was running away from God and rebelling against what God had told him to do and as a result the other sailors (who were not men of God) suffered a storm that threatened their lives…because Jonah was on their boat! This time, the man of God (Paul) was trying to warn the others of destruction, but they did not heed and so Paul is suffering the consequences of their decision, being on the same boat as them.
Our decisions and actions do not just affect us. They affect all those around us…and especially those closest to us. And Scripture is clear: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8).
We may not reap what we sow right away. Things may appear “calm” and “good” for a season. But the season of reaping the fruit of our ways will come. Proverbs 1:29-33 for example both warns and promises: “Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
So what does this mean?
Does this mean there is no hope?
Here’s the reality: God will let the consequences of our choices (and others) play out. But if we humble ourselves, repent and listen to His instructions: He will have mercy on us.
It was at this point in Acts 27, when all hope of being saved was lost, and the storm continued raging and darkness was the continual reality for many days…Paul spoke up again. Initially he was quiet as the consequences began to play themselves out and they struggled to prevail against the storm. But then he spoke up when he saw them giving up all hope of being saved.
Here is what he said to them in Acts 27:21-26: “After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss.
(There comes a place and point where we have to accept we blew it. There also comes a place and point where we need to accept that had we heeding God’s warnings, we could have spared ourselves a lot of damage and loss. Rather than being angry with God and blaming God, we need to accept personal responsibility for the choices we made in our stubbornness).
But that is not all Paul said.
He also said this: “But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”
The story goes on and another situation arises, where Paul urges them to do something…and this time they listen! Paul also goes on to encourage them and they take courage…and while the ship is shipwrecked and destroyed…no one losses their life! God had mercy in the midst of consequences.
I felt I was to write this article in the hopes of trying to encourage two kinds of people: those like Paul, who through no fault of your own are suffering the “storm” of consequences because of others failures to listen to God; and secondly, those who through their own failure to listen to God, are now facing the consequences of that…and are without hope.
Everything may seem dark and hopeless for you right now. The storm may be raging relentlessly. I just want to encourage you through this story what has been encouraging me and that is this: God is the God of all hope.
We may suffer great loss because of our choices…but if we turn to Him in humility and repentance…He will save us. And if you belong to Him and are serving Him but others around you are failing to heed His warnings and instruction: be encouraged. God will stand beside you, strengthen you and fulfill His promise to you, regardless of the choices of others. You may experience a shipwreck…but don’t let it shipwreck your faith in Him.
The reality is this: many in our churches and country are failing to heed the warnings of the Lord. A storm will come as a result. Hosea 8:7 says: “They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.” A whirlwind is coming. There will be much damage and loss that could have been prevented had we heeded the warnings. But because of His people, God will have mercy, and fulfill His purposes. Life does not always go as planned. We suffer because of our failure to heed the voice of the Lord or others failure to heed His voice.
But Psalm 46:10-11 says this: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Ben Foley 