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by Kevin Pauley
Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord's work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. - 1 Corinthians 15:58 HCSB
There is a story that goes like this: Years ago one of the largest, most powerful battleships that the world has ever known, the USS Missouri, was cruising off the coast of Nova Scotia. A gale wind was blowing, whipping the waves into a frenzy.
The great ship, nicknamed the “Mighty Mo”, commanded the seas wherever it sailed. Every ship that approached her would quickly give way for no one dared challenge her 16” guns that were capable of firing a 2000-pound shell over 20 miles with near pinpoint accuracy.
Long after dark, the ocean rose and fell as the gale winds continued. Then suddenly, dead ahead a light broke through the darkness. The alarm was sounded and the captain was called to the bridge. Something was wrong with the radar and they couldn’t determine what the light was. Surely this was just a passing freighter on its way to a safe harbor?
For an hour the captain tracked the movement of the light but it seemed to be heading straight for the Missouri, not moving even 1 degree to the left or right to avoid collision and getting ever closer in the darkness. Perhaps their radar had jammed too, or perhaps they just simply had not seen the lights of the Missouri dead ahead.
The captain decided that it was prudent to send out a warning call to the approaching ship. “Approaching ship, turn 15 degrees south. You are on a collision course with the USS Missouri.”
The answer came quickly, “USS Missouri. You are ordered to turn 45 degrees north. You are on a collision course.”
The captain of the Missouri was incensed. The very idea that anyone would challenge his right-of-way on the open seas! He sent out a second message, “Approaching vessel, this is the captain of Navy Vessel, BB11, USS Missouri. You are ordered to turn 15 degrees south and yield right of way.”
The answer came back, “US Navy vessel BB11, USS Missouri, this is the Seaman 1Class on duty at the Nova Scotia Lighthouse. You are ordered to turn 45 degrees north.”
The captain of the great battleship, with “egg on his face”, quickly ordered the helm to turn 45 degrees north to avoid grounding his ship upon the rocks.
I don’t know when or if this story ever really happened. But it does serve to make a point. We must never forget that there is but one steadfast and unmovable reference point for life and that is the Word of God. We must also remember that we are to be equally steadfast and unmovable in our commitment to obeying the Word of God.
It’s our choice - yield to immovable God or shatter ourselves on the shoals of rightness. Want to play chicken?
Kevin Pauley is a pastor and writer. He lives in Illinois with his wife, Lynn, their five children and two dogs. His internet address is Berea.
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