Truths from the Titanic

We can look to God as our rescuer - the One who is with us, even in our times of deepest challenges or sorrows, even in difficult circumstances - we can run to Him and know His peace and presence.   Psalm 69 says:
13 But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation. 14 Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. 15 Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. 16 Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.

Sometimes we will experience deliverance from physical circumstances that bring trouble, but sometimes the internal work of the Lord will come in the midst of affliction, and we can experience the gift of a greater measure of God's Spirit and character.   We acknowledge that God's ways are best, and that He has provided the ultimate rescue in Christ!

2nd Corinthians 5 tells us:
20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Needless to say, there are many Americans who are fascinated with the Titanic story - and the 100th Anniversary is coming up this weekend.   The movie is #2 in all-time box office and has been re-released in 3D; ABC has a 4-hour miniseries coming up this weekend, and there are a number of books in the genre of Christian fiction that have been released.   John & Mindy Clark co-wrote, "Echoes of Titanic", and Tricia Goyer has "By the Light of the Silvery Moon".

In fact, in her blog today, Tricia offers some discussion questions based on the Titanic story, which are designed to be used by homeschool families, but can be applicable to each of our lives:

1. Many people assumed the Titanic couldn't sink. An assumption means “something taken for granted.” Why do you think they believed that assumption? Also, what have you taken for granted in your life? Your parents? Your faith?

2. Key people didn't heed warnings about the danger in the waters ahead of the Titanic. Wireless operators from other ships tried to get through to Captain Smith with warnings about the ice fields, but the operators on the Titanic were too busy with commercial transmissions. Why do you think the radio operators ignored the warnings? Are there warnings in your life that you're not heeding?

3. A steward on the Titanic is quoted at saying, “Madam, God himself could not sink this ship.” A familiar saying goes, “Pride goes before the fall.” How did pride in this man-made ship lead many to loose their lives? Can you share a time when you witnesses pride bringing a person down.

4. History states that Captain Smith went down with the ship. Traditionally the Captain was the ultimate servant to the passengers on his ship. Also the crew members were expected to continued to serve passengers in the event of the ship sinking. Their job was to put the passengers needs before their own. How do you think this is similar to Jesus' servant attitude?

There are plenty of lessons that we can take away from this tragedy, including the concept of rescue that Ron Hutchcraft brings out:

In those graves are some of the 327 people the Nova Scotia funeral ships found floating in the water, frozen to death. Lost because the people who were already saved did nothing about the dying people who were within their reach.

And, there's the lesson for us: we have been saved by Christ and we can reach out to those who are dying - living in sin, apart from God.   Ron relates the story of one man who was a light to those around him even before the ship was going down, the story of John Harper:

John was seen often, talking about Jesus with fellow passengers. He gently inquired, "Are you saved?" He cared deeply about whether folks had ever asked Jesus, God's Rescuer from heaven, to save them from the penalty of their sin. None of those passengers had any idea how close they were to eternity...John Harper quickly realized that Titanic was going down. He made sure his precious daughter was in her aunt's arms as he put her in Lifeboat 11 - and told her, "I will see you again someday." And then he turned to "rescuing."...

As the great ship went under, he ended up in the 28-degree water in a lifejacket. Witnesses reported that John swam feverishly from person to person, asking about their relationship with Christ. When one man told him he was not "saved," this man of God gave him his lifejacket -and swam to tell another man about Jesus.

At a Titanic survivors meeting a few years later, a young man stood up and said:

"I am a survivor of the Titanic. When I was drifting alone on a spar that awful night, the tide brought Mr. John Harper of Glasgow, also on a piece of wreck near me. He asked, 'Man are you saved?' I replied, 'No, I am not.' 'Then believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved,' he said."

The story didn't end there. "The waves bore him away; but strange to say brought him back a little later, and he said, 'Are you saved now?' I said, 'No, I cannot honestly say I am.' Once more, John said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.' Shortly after, he went down. And there, alone in the night, and with two miles of water under me, I believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am John Harper's last convert."

As Ron points out, John Harper understood his assignment as a rescuer, an ambassador for Christ who was passionate about making sure those with whom he came in contact knew where they would spend eternity.

Ron Hutchcraft Ministries is offering a free e-book called, "Your Personal Titanic" - go to www.hutchcraft.com to learn more.