Act 27:38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.

We have in this account the famous sea voyage of Paul to Rome. Paul was a prisoner bound for Rome. The ship encountered a severe storm. It looked like they were going to perish.

What lessons can we draw from this chapter?

1. LIFE IS A VOYAGE. Life is never smooth sailing. We will encounter storms in our lives. How should we face the storm? We see the sailors trying to abandon ship and flee using the life boats; they were selfish. We can’t run away like those sailors. Did they think their smaller boats could survive the storm when the big ship couldn’t? In the same way, we can’t run away from problems. We should instead be like Paul: face the storm with faith. Paul trusted in God to deliver them (Acts 27:25).

Jesus said that we will face the storms of life (John 16:33). The storms of life are many and varied. Abraham, Jacob, David, Daniel and Jesus’ disciples all faced storms in their lives. How did they weathered the storms? They trusted in God to deliver them: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). Trust in God to deliver us from the storms of life (1 Corinthians 10:13).

2. WE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT. We are never alone. Paul had the centurion, soldiers, sailors, and fellow prisoners with him. They swim or sink together. In this situation, they abandoned all their differences and had only one thing in their mind: how to save the ship.

The word “fellowship” implies we are fellows on the same ship. The Greek word “koinōnia” means joint-participation. We are fellows doing things together in the same ship. Whether the ship sinks or floats depends on everyone in the ship.

Paul was a prisoner. He could seize the opportunity to escape. But he didn’t. Instead, he was instrumental in saving the ship. Let us always remember that we are one family in Christ (Romans 12:5). Let us rejoice with each other and weep with each other because this is what family do (Romans 12:15).

3. SOME WILL BE SELFISH. The sailors, who were supposed to steer the ship, chose to abandon ship. There will be some who are selfish and refuse to do their part in steering the ship (Philippians 2:21). That’s not the Christ-like way.

The Christ-like way is more of others and less of self: “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:4). Let’s be self-less and not self-ish.

4. WE HAVE A CAPTAIN. Every ship has a captain. He commands the ship. He gives the direction. He makes the decisions when the ship encounters a storm. Everyone looks up to him for guidance.

                    

We have a captain of our salvation. His name is Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:1-2). Christ was Paul’s faith when they encountered the storm (Acts 27:23). He knew this captain would steer them through the storm. Likewise, we need to put our trust in the Captain of our salvation (Proverbs 3:5-6). When a storm arises, we can be of good cheer because we have Jesus who is our pilot.

5. THROW AWAY EXCESS BAGGAGE. To lighten the ship so that it could float nearer to shore, they threw away the excess wheat. Wheat was their food but life was more important. When you are in dire straits, the last things you will think about are your bank accounts, your precious car, diamonds and gold. Those things become unimportant when you are about to lose your life.

The scripture says we are to “get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won't let go” (Hebrews 12:1, CEV). No athlete who intends to win gold will carry unnecessary baggage with him; he wants to be as light as possible. If you are racing against a tiger which is behind you, you will throw away any bags you are carrying.

What is your excess baggage? Is it a sin that you cannot give up? Is it your job? Is it the world? We are commanded not to love the world (1 John 2:15-17) but to lay up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20). Let us throw away any excess baggage that prevents us from going to heaven. “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me” (Matthew 19:21).

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.