The Titanic

Almost everyone has heard of the famous and tragic shipwreck of the RMS Titanic.In 1912, the Titanic was a modern marvel of workmanship and luxury and was called, ironically, the unsinkable ship. It has been famously rumored that someone said, “Even God Himself cannot sink this ship.” But on April 14th, 1912, just four days into her maiden voyage, the Titanic struck an iceberg and now lies approximately 2.4 miles below the surface of the ice-cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Perhaps it was due to the erroneous thought that even God Himself couldn’t sink the ship that an insufficient number of lifeboats were on board. It has been said that the White Star line wanted fewer lifeboats on the decks of Titanic to provide unobstructed views for passengers and to give the ship more aesthetic appeal to on-lookers. As a result of this grave mistake and many others, approximately 1,500 out of Titanic’s 2,240 passengers lost their lives that night. I wonder how many people walked by those lifeboats that were on board but never took time to consider their infinite value—never took time to be grateful that they were there. As soon as the Titanic began to sink and her passengers hit the unforgiving, ice-cold 28°F water, the thing that was least valued and most overlooked became the most valuable cargo aboard. For four days, some of the world’s most wealthy people walked upon her decks. I cannot help but wonder: when the Titanic sank and those terrified, shivering people went into the water, how many of them would have given every penny they had to be safely aboard one of those little lifeboats? (Mark 8:36-37) Dear friend, this tragic story is a clear and accurate picture of our lives.The Titanic is your life. The iceberg is death. The ocean is God’s wrath. And the lifeboat is JESUS CHRIST. So many people do not value Him because they also think, “Even God Himself cannot sink my ship.” But one day, you will meet with the iceberg called death. And your ship will sink. And the only thing that will save you from an ocean of God’s wrath is the Lifeboat: JESUS CHRIST. You must realize you have broken God’s Holy Law, and you must face Him on judgment day (Hebrews 9:27). Dear friend, sin is not just a mistake or a moral failure. It is a crime against an infinitely Holy God (1 John 3:4). It is a crime we are all guilty of (Romans 3:23). Indeed, all of humanity stands condemned before God (John 3:18). We have all lied. We have all stolen. We have all used God’s Holy name in vain [using it without proper respect & reverence]. Jesus said that if you even look at someone with lust [sexual desire], you have committed adultery in your heart (Matthew 5:28). The Bible says no sexually immoral person [heterosexual or homosexual] will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). The Bible says if you have hated someone, you are guilty of murder (1 John 3:15). Scripture declares that God is angry with the wicked (Psalm 7:11). One of the most terrifying truths of Scripture is that God is good, and that He is a good judge (Ecclesiastes 12:14, Acts 17:31). Because of this, He will not be bribed, nor will He turn His head and allow sin to go unpunished (Numbers 14:18). It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). He will make sure the demands of justice are satisfied. Because of our crimes, justice demands our death (Ezekiel 18:20, Romans 6:23). Dear sinner, do you see your desperate need for Christ? If so, there is good news!God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to suffer the judgment we deserve, and to save us, reconciling us to Himself (John 3:16, 1 Timothy 1:15 ). Our sin is so serious and so great that it took God becoming a man, taking on human flesh, and dying upon the cross to save us from its power and its eternal consequence. When Christ was upon the cross, the sin of humanity was placed upon Him (Isaiah 53:6, 1 Peter 2:24). And the wrath that we deserve was poured out on Him (Isaiah 53:4-5). Right before Jesus died, He said, “IT IS FINISHED!” This means the demands of justice were satisfied. This great debt was paid in full, fully atoning those who will embrace Christ as Lord and Savior (John 19:30, 1 John 2:2, John 1:12). Because of the sacrifice of Christ in our place, God can legally let us go (Romans 3:26). Now, there is one of two choices you can make (Joshua 24:15). You can choose to repent and trust Christ as your Lord and Savior, receiving the forgiveness He bought and paid for with His life’s blood. Or you can choose to pay for your sin yourself, the only adequate payment being eternity in hell suffering the wrath of God without end. Oh dear friend, today we call you to repentance and faith.You stand condemned and dead in your sins, and the wrath of Almighty God abides upon you (Ephesians 2:1, John 3:36). Jesus said you must be born again (John 3:3). What does it mean to repent and trust in Jesus?Repentance means “to change one’s mind.” Your mind must change about Jesus, about your sin, and about yourself. True repentance will also result in a change of actions. In the original language of the Bible, the word for “believe” also means “faith” and “trust.” You must believe that Jesus is God and that He is your only Hope. Jesus is not one of many ways; He is the only way (John 14:16, Acts 4:12). You must have faith and believe that He can and will save you—when you come to Him on His terms. And You must trust in Him. Someone defines trust this way … “Imagine you are on a plane that is getting ready to crash at any moment. Someone hands you a parachute and tells you to jump to safety. Simply believing the parachute could save you wouldn’t save you. You must put it on and trust and make the jump. Then and only then would you be saved from certain death.” It is the same way with Christ: you must trust in Him, clinging to Him for dear life, knowing He is your only Hope (Romans 13:14). The moment you repent and trust in Christ, God will give you a new heart that loves Him and that loves righteousness, and He will indwell and fill you with His Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27). You will be a new creation —“Born Again” (2 Corinthians 5:17). You will be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18). Today, dear friend, look unto Jesus, and flee from the wrath to come. When your ship begins to sink, will you have the lifeboat?