“And when they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta.” (Acts 28:1)
A BEACH OF SAND
Never did the sand of a beach feel so good under a group of men’s feet than on that day long ago on the beach of Malta.
After having been through nothing less than a hurricane (“Euraquilo”; Acts 27:14) on a ship in the middle of the sea for fourteen days straight, to be able to stand secure on dry land – not fearing for your life and fighting with every last ounce of strength within you to save it – well, it must have felt like a pipe-dream that it would ever happen.
NO PIPE-DREAM
But it was no pipe-dream.
It was reality.
The Apostle Paul and two-hundred and seventy-five others (Acts 27:37) had really survived the storm (and come through a shipwreck, too!)!
I encourage you to go back when you have some time to read the story in Acts 27:1-44 and reflect upon it.
It’s one of the most exciting in all of Scripture.
YOU’RE GONNA MAKE IT!
And there are two short points I want to leave you with.
The first is: (1) When God says you’re gonna make it, you better believe you’re gonna make it!
“‘Do not be afraid, Paul … God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.'” (Acts 27:24)
“‘[F]or there shall be no loss of life among you.'” (Acts 27:22)
So what has God said to you personally that you need to believe? (Acts 16:31)
JOYOUS ARRIVALS
And the second point is – it’s one of my favorite quotes from Pastor Jack Hayford (I have it written down in my Bible!): (2) “There are no dream voyages in this life, but there are joyous arrivals. Stay on board!”
“Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, ‘Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.'” (Acts 27:31)
We will arrive in one piece in the presence of the Lord on the shores of the next life, my brothers and sisters, if we “stay on board” in Christ.
Not a one of us will be lost.
It’s God’s promise!
(Blue Lagoon Bay via Creative Commons : click here. CC BY-SA 3.0)
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