1 Timothy 1:18-19 – “This charge I commit unto you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on you, that you by them might war a good warfare; 19) Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
Thinking of the Christian life as a ship vessel, we are all capable of spiritual shipwreck. The Titanic proved there is no such thing as an unsinkable vessel.
Some are able to go through this life apparently without suffering shipwreck. However, others do not fare as well and end up shipwrecked.
1. If the captain does not follow or heed to sea charts or radar, he may run aground in shallow water. When we live by our feelings instead of by the truth of God’s Word, we endanger ourselves.
2. Pure neglect, over the course of time, will begin to take its toll. A ship goes to dry dock for repairs. We too, must always be alert for areas in our lives which need healing work or repentance and forgiveness. This should be urgent in our lives.
3. Some ships sink by collisions. How many quarrels and disagreements have ended relationships in some people’s lives? God’s alarm system in our lives against such collisions is the voice of the Holy Spirit.
4. How does shipwreck occur? Through carelessness! If you are to remain afloat in a ship, a captain and his crew know you cannot afford to be careless for one moment. Likewise, in your spirit to remain afloat you must follow the same rule. Don’t let down your spiritual guard for one moment.
5. Another cause is storm. An experienced and wise captain has respect for the power of a storm, and also has learned how to sail through them.
How is your weather gauge? We stand in danger of spiritual shipwreck when we see storms approaching our lives and do not prepare for them, or when we allow fear to paralyze us.
As sure as sunny days come, storms will come. We can’t control the weather, but we can rely on the One who has control of the wind and waves. His name is Jesus, because He speaks to the wind, “Peace, be still.” And it obeys.
Be watchful. It is possible to sail the seas of life without becoming shipwrecked, but danger is ever present.
Someone once said “A holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns; they just shine.”
