Hold On To The Boat

A couple of weeks ago, four friends went on a fishing trip off the coast of south Florida. When they did not return that night, the Coast Guard launched a search. Two days later, one lone survivor was found still clinging to the overturned boat. His story is not clear, since he was in serious condition when rescued, suffering from hypothermia. It appears two of the men simply took off their lifejackets and slipped beneath the surface of the water. Another thought he saw land, removed his lifejacket, and swam away. He was not seen again.

All these men were athletes. Two of them were currently playing football in the NFL. They had all the safety equipment, and the owner of the boat was an experienced boater and fisherman. They all, no doubt, knew their best chance of survival was to stay with the boat. So what happened? It would appear the effects of hypothermia caused confusion that led to fatal decisions.

We may not be in the ocean, but no one would argue that our nation is facing the rough seas of economic turmoil and global conflict. The waves have grown to the point many lives are being upended. The unimaginable has become reality and those who were once comfortable are now struggling to survive.

Guys, we are no match for this storm. The men in the boat that sank off the Florida coast were physically and mentally tough. They were professional athletes in one of the toughest sports in the world, but they were no match for the forces of nature that came against them. On our own, we are no match for the forces coming against us today. We are prone to make the same kind of wrong decisions these men made.

We may have been self-sufficient in the past, but this does not mean being self-sufficient will be enough now or in the future. It is in these times that deceptive forces say let go of the boat; compromise your values and cut a few corners to get through this crisis. Don’t do it! The results can be catastrophic. There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death (Proverbs 16:25).

This is the time to hold fast to what is good and right, even though everything in you wants to let go. Help is on the way and you will be able to hang on until it arrives. How do I know? Because God said He would never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). That means you will be rescued!

 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:12-13).

Most Recent Posts by Mike Hartsfield

• Heroes Do Not Apply! - June 2nd, 2009
• Why Am I Illogically Irrational? - May 26th, 2009
• I Don’t Know Why I Am Afraid! - May 19th, 2009
• Is That What I Said? - April 14th, 2009
• I Mean What I Do, Not What I Say - March 31st, 2009
• This Is Not My Rock! - March 10th, 2009