Aug. 7, 2016
MY FRIENDS, DO WE HAVE THE FAITH AND ENDURANCE TO REMAIN ON THE SHIP?
“And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship’s boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, Paul said to the Centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Acts 17:30-31 (ESV) Today my friends we are going to make the saving grace and mercies of God and His Spirit the ship that we all must stay on to receive our just reward that will be “rendered to every man [and woman] according to what they have done.” Rev. 22:12 (KJV)
Today it becomes personal, because you and l have some decisions to make as we move deeper and deeper out into the open waters of life, and the end of time as we know it as the love of many continues to grow colder and the rain and storms seems to never cease. My friends, Satan knows his “stature of limitation” has just about run out, so he entices God’s chosen with great intensity like never before to leave the safety of the ship into the “primal chaos” of this world.
But we must realize we are only Safe when we stay in the ship and keep our eyes focused on the one who Paid it all for our salvation. Because it is “His desire to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable nature of His purpose, intervened and guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God to lie.
And we who have fled [to Him] for refuge would have strong encouragement and indwelling strength to hold tightly to the hope set before us. This 
hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it]—a safe and steadfast hope that enters within the veil…….in which the very presence of God dwells],” Heb. 6:18-19 (AMP)
My friends, with a sincere and contrite heart, focus on the veil. Because it is that veil that divides Christ and what was accomplished on Calvary through His death and resurrection from the forces of evil, the “seen from the unseen, the earthly from the heavenly,” the darkness from light and the bitter from the sweet.”
In addition, when the ship is tossed in the raging storms of life, and the tempest is raging and all seems lost, “God’s promises and oath tells us that He is our hope, and he is also a strong and trustworthy anchor which keeps the ship from drifting because there are “times when the anchors slip. But not so with the anchor of hope” which is the very presence of God.”(SDA Bible Commentary)
Friends “the curtain has been pulled back by God’s holy angels” “And we see that lawlessness continues to abound. And we see nation continue to rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. and famines and pestilences, and earthquakes continue in various places. But, Christ tells us that these are only the beginning of sorry for all who decide to leave the safe and secure arms of our Savior who is our only anchor and “hope in times of trouble.”
And for each of us who stays in the ship one day soon that hope will anchor in a safe place, not in this world, but a place prepared for the redeemed that “Eye have not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him. [and stay on the ship] 1 Cor. 2:9 (NKJV)
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