Castoff

Jonah 1:4,5  But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

As we travel in ships of life surrounded by the sea of death on every side, we grow accustomed to death’s languid presence.  Occasionally, God sends a mighty tempest to churn the apparition of death from indifference into stark contention.  At these periodic upheavals of normalcy the specter of death loses its abstract possibility and gains an imperative certainty.  So, too, these men faced the specter of death, close, personal, and with certainty.  Their first course of action is one thought the most crucial when seeking ship-worthiness, - lighten the load and lighten the ship.  A lighter ship will react more quickly, become more buoyant, and gain structural integrity.  Unfortunately, in God’s eyes it was the wrong course of action.  The tempest, though rough for a heavy laden ship was still rougher than the ship, itself, could handle. 

In the same way, God does not ask or accept the tossing out of our wares to escape the tempest of death.  The wages of sin is death, and sin is the ware by which we earn this frightful wage.  No matter how we lighten the load of sin in our life, the tempest will not be assuaged.  Tossing out a sin here and there will not suffice to discourage the tempest or remedy the destiny of a foundering life.  Every life-ship is encumbered by the wares of sin in the hold or heart of the vessel.  A ship itself, unburdened and empty, cannot be a surety against the sea.  With such a frail vessel, how can we rely on the tossing out of sin in our life to lead into deliverance from destruction?

Jonah 1:13  Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.

The second most important action in any attempt to gain sea-worthiness is to add power to a vessel.  With power a ship can plow through the sea and reach the shore safely.  With power the vessel can propel its way up and through the rough seas.  But, do we have the ability to provide enough power?  Every man in the ship knew their lives hung in the balance.  They worked hard to reach the coast, they sweated, and they became exhausted.  God was not looking for their work and effort.  God did not ease the tempest on account of diligence and strength.  They could no more gain the safety of land through their own efforts than if they hadn’t even begun to row.  God does not grant any reprieve to those who labor with great effort toward that heavenly shore.  Toward a shore and never reaching is the fruit of such labor.

Jonah 1:11,12,15  Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.  And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. … So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.    

It was not what they could do to calm the tempest, but what Jonah could do.  Jonah did not direct them to toss out their wares, nor did he advise them to row toward shore.  Jonah simply said, “Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea”.  Oh, how they did not want to believe he was their lifeline.  How they tried every other avenue.  They did not want to toss Jonah out of their hands and into God’s.  But, God would have no other way. 

In the same way Jonah provided deliverance to the ship when cast forth, so too, did Christ provide deliverance when He was cast forth into death on the cross.  The sacrifice of Jonah lent calm, serenity, and peace to troubled mariners.  Christ offers the same.  “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”, (Matt. 11:28)  Christ has already been tossed out of the ship and into death’s embrace.  Yet, death still holds fear to those who do not believe and trust the sacrifice of Christ.  But, just as Jonah was delivered onto dry land, so too was Christ raised from the dead and unto life.  Without trust and belief in Christ, every ship will founder in the depths of death’s ocean.  With Christ, we need fear no sea of death, no foundering ship, no overburdened wares, or failing strength.  But, it takes a belief and trust in Christ as the one to deliver.  God will have no other way.

Are you tossing out wares and rowing hard?

Or, are you trusting in God’s only way through the tempest?

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.