Stay the course...

 

A ship's captain stood behind the sailor whose hands were on the steering wheel and said these words, "Stay the course", which meant he was to observe the compass heading and continue in that direction.

 

On the Captain's desk the journey had been plotted: the compass settings, barometer readings, the set of the sails-- every detail of the voyage was constantly to be maintained by whatever He dictated.  But a safe journey depended on the obedience of the sailors to his commands.

 

A helmsman had to pass the tests and learn much through training before he could assume this position. That responsibility could not use a novice--but one who had passed the tests and proven his reliability, for the safety of the entire ship and crew depended upon his following the orders from the Captain.

 

The error on the ship's maiden voyage between Southampton and New York in 1912 happened because at the time seagoing was undergoing enormous upheaval because of the conversion from sail to steam ships. The change meant there was two different steering systems and different commands attached to them. Some of the crew on the Titanic were used to the archaic Tiller Orders associated with sailing ships and some to the more modern Rudder Orders. Crucially, the two steering systems were the complete opposite of one another. So a command to turn "hard to starboard" meant turn the wheel right under the Tiller system but left under the Rudder.

 

It has been written that the only reason the Titanic went down was because the man in charge of the helm turned right instead of left.  He had initially been on a sailing vessel, but when this new ship the Titanic was put to sea, he panicked and forgot that the new orders would be different. 

 

When they spotted the iceberg two miles away, his "hard a-starboard" order was misinterpreted by the Quartermaster Robert Hitchins. He turned the ship right instead of left and, even though he was almost immediately told to correct it, it was too late and the side of the starboard bow was ripped out by the iceberg.

 

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You and I who have given our lives to the Lord, are automatically involved in His kingdom.  Our lives are not our own---they belong to Him, and the Lord gives each of us our personal assignment as part of His "crew".  How important is His command this very day:  "Stay the course!" God is speaking!  We are not to allow our eyes to wander away from His compass settings, but to maintain the headings that the Captain has ordered.  "To whom much is given, much is required". 

 

Today things are unstable in nearly every country on earth.  Worries and fears abound all around us: unemployment, bankruptcies, rising prices and interest rates, famines, scandals, deadly new diseases and viruses, unusual weather, earthquakes, floods, poisoning of our oceans, plant life, terrorism, the threats of radical governments and religions.  Indeed, the sea of life surrounding us AT THIS VERY MOMENT is polluted with every evil mankind can think of, each one of them is designed to divert our attention from the compass setting the Captain has ordered. 

 

Can we miss it? Actually, all of us have practiced "missing it" since our hands were first allowed to grab that helm.

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Just as the two different vessels were powered in different ways: one using sails, the other by fuel, you and I must discover for ourselves that walking in the Holy Spirit changes us from depending on our own efforts and ideas to listening for His leadership. These are perilous times, and we are afloat in a sea of changes and dangers.  How important it is that each of us draw near to the Captain of our soul!  To learn His ways, to learn His voice! 

 

But we are not ready to take the wheel unless we know His Word and have obeyed and followed the Holy Spirit.  "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God". (Romans 8:14) Isaiah 30:21: "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

 

May we earnestly seek Him in these perilous times.

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Psalm 71:  "In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me, for thou art my rock and my fortress...Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.  Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together.  O God, be not far from me, O my God, make haste for my help...I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteouness, even of thine only.

 

O God, thou has taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.  Now also, when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come..."

 

MARY E ADAMS