First, Save the Vessel

If a ship with valuable cargo had sprung a leak would it be better to move the cargo to a higher level on the ship or fix the leak in the ship? Is the cargo safe at a higher level of a sinking ship? If the leak is not fixed is the plight of the ship inevitable? Is not the cargo going to be destroyed eventually if the leak continues to be ignored?

The answers seems simple. The crew’s efforts to save the cargo to the upper deck of a sinking ship is wasted effort. The only fruit of their labors is a false sense of security and the temporary satisfaction of being busy.

Every crew member is going to realize that there is a problem when water starts to leak into their ship. How each individual crew member responds will depend on their perspective. A shortsighted crew member may try to rearrange the cargo or move it to a safer place on the sinking ship.

The best action would be to repair the damage to the ship. When the vessel is secure then the freight is safe.

Most churches and believers see problems in our world, our nation, our homes and our lives. Like the crew we rush around trying to preserve our world, our society, our marriage, our kids, our finances, even our lives. Churches and believers often fail to secure the vessel. The vessel is the Word of God. The Word of God is the foundation for every area of our lives and every decision we make. The Scriptures reveal God, his plan, his ways and his Son, Jesus Christ. For situations in God's creation to have meaning and to make sense we must have the correct perspective.

Indeed people and societies are frantically looking for answers just like the crew is frantically moving cargo. But, until the people understand God’s revelation to them in the Scriptures they will not have understanding or insight. All of our attempts to rearrange their lives will only be rearranging the cargo before the disaster.

Galyn Wiemers
http://www.generationword.com