“Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss

Acts 27:1-20 (NASB) from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Paul Is Sent to Rome

27 When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, they proceeded to deliver Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan cohort named Julius. ² And embarking in an Adramyttian ship, which was about to sail to the regions along the coast of Asia, we put out to sea accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica. ³ The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul with consideration and allowed him to go to his friends and receive care. ⁴ From there we put out to sea and sailed under the shelter of Cyprus because the winds were contrary. ⁵ When we had sailed through the sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. ⁶ There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. ⁷ When we had sailed slowly for a good many days, and with difficulty had arrived off Cnidus, since the wind did not permit us to go farther, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone; ⁸ and with difficulty sailing past it we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

⁹ When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul began to admonish them, ¹⁰ and said to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” ¹¹ But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul. ¹² Because the harbor was not suitable for wintering, the majority reached a decision to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

¹³ When a moderate south wind came up, supposing that they had attained their purpose, they weighed anchor and began sailing along Crete, close inshore.

Shipwreck

¹⁴ But before very long there rushed down from the land a violent wind, called Euraquilo; ¹⁵ and when the ship was caught in it and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and let ourselves be driven along. ¹⁶ Running under the shelter of a small island called Clauda, we were scarcely able to get the ship’s boat under control. ¹⁷ After they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship; and fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor and in this way let themselves be driven along. ¹⁸ The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo; ¹⁹ and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. ²⁰ Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned.

Back in Acts 25:12 we saw the incident that began this journey Paul was on. When he was standing before Festus, being falsely accused, he appealed to the highest earthly authority there was.           Then when Festus had conferred with his council, he answered, "You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go."       So Paul was now in route to that destination, to stand before Caesar. His actual destiny and purpose though were about more than the things Paul was accused of. God's purpose was to have Paul bring the gospel message to that highest earthly authority. Although it would not fully become established in Rome until many years later under Constantine, Paul sowed the seeds that initiated the gospel's spread throughout the world.

The text says:  When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul began to admonish them, ¹⁰ and said to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” ¹¹ But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul.    Paul had the wisdom and incite from God and the Holy Spirit, but world systems often will not pay attention to God's wisdom. 1 Corinthians 2:14 is speaking of the world's rejection of the gospel message but it really applies to all of God's wisdom. It says:   But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.        Everyone, the whole world is on a journey, like Paul, to stand before a higher authority.  Hebrews 9:27 says:  And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.     Each person will face that judgment, standing either on their own ability to measure up to the righteousness of God or standing in Christ's righteousness.

Romans 5:8 says:  God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 1 Corinthians 1:18 also speaks of the world's rejection of the cross. It says:   For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Paul spoke a warning to the men in charge of the journey. The course they were on was reckless and would not end well. Today our nation, our culture and society is also on a path toward sure destruction. We, like Paul, are carried along on the journey and the course our nation is going. We, like Paul, will suffer through some of the natural consequences of the poor decisions that are being made about the course we are on.

We who know the truth of what is coming, have a responsibility. We have a charge and commission, like Ezekiel in Ezekiel 33:7-11 where God says:

⁷ “Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from My mouth and give them warning from Me. ⁸ When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require from your hand. ⁹ But if you on your part warn a wicked man to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your life.

¹⁰ “Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus you have spoken, saying, “Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we are rotting away in them; how then can we survive?”’ ¹¹ Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’

 Even though they may not listen, they may think that the knowledge of men is greater than the wisdom of God, we are called to continue to speak the things of God. To declare the good news of the kingdom of God to a world headed for destruction and judgment.

We need to carefully consider our words though, knowing that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing what should we do and say? Jesus gave us an answer in Matthew 5:14-16 where He says:

 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; ¹⁵ nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 

Our words may seem as foolishness, but if we will shine the light of Christ, doing as He said we would in John 14:12: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.    

The world may not receive our words, rejecting them as foolishness, but there is no denying the light and the power of the kingdom of heaven when it touches the things of earth. Some may indeed see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. There are others, who like those with Paul, might be spared for a time because of God's will and plan for our lives.

The world has lived under the grace of God since the time Jesus went to the cross. Many think that because so much time has passed the surely He will not return as He said.      Peter 3:8-9  tells us the truth concerning the delay in God's judgment.

 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit,  thank You that the message of the cross was not foolishness to me. But that by Your grace You revealed it's truth and power to me. Help me to understand that I, like Paul am on a journey of Your will. Give me the courage to continue to speak of the wisdom You provide through Your Holy Spirit. Give me the courage to be Your watchman, like Ezekiel, declaring the things that You reveal. Most of all give me patience, knowing that You desire that none would perish, that all would come to repentance. Fill me with Your Light and Your power, that I might do Your works that they may see and glorify You. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.    Amen