Titanic

A few days ago I watched the movie Titanic. I am sure almost everyone has seen one or more version of the Titanic movie. At the end of the movie I began to think about the passengers and crew on board that doomed ship. Knowing this was a real life tragedy, one can’t help but think about the panic and desperation those passengers were going through. Within hours they were looking at certain death.

I believe we can look at the history of this century old tragedy and parallel it with the life of many people today.

History tells us what caused the Titanic to sink, and as we look at every circumstance of that dreadful night we can add up all the “what ifs” that could have saved those people that perished April 14, 1912. Here is a list I have put together that I believe if only one of the “what ifs” would have taken place all the passengers and crew would have been saved.

The list could go on, but this is only a few things that didn’t happen, and because not one of these events occurred, it sank on April 14, 1912 taking 1523 men, women and children to their death. Among those who perished that night were the very rich to the very poor and many of the crew from the Captain down to the stoker in the bottom of the ship. We can see that death strikes people in every walk of life, young and old, rich or poor, famous to the unknown, adult, teenager and child.

I can just imagine the rich reaching past their money, jewelry, furs and everything else that made their life comfortable, for a life jacket. I want you to notice that everything that was most important at the onset of the voyage, in a moment of time lost all value when they realized their ship was sinking and death was on the agenda. The things people acquire, the things they continually want and seek for in this life will have no importance when this life is over.

I like to tell this story I heard several years ago, it will help get our priorities in order. There was an extremely rich man that died and someone ask this question, “How much money did the man leave?” The answer was“all of it”. Do you get it? We can spend all our time acquiring STUFF and I mean stuff, whether it be status, fame, money, or things, it is all stuff in one way or another, and will all be left behind at our death, we are not going to take any of it with us. I am not saying we shouldn’t strive to have a nice home, car and education for our children, and much more. But I am saying don’t forget along the way, to prepare for your departure, and I am not talking about making out your Will, but making sure you have prepared to meet Jesus. Never allow this life to consume all your energy and that is what I see in the world today. Most people have time for everything but Bible study, prayer or witnessing for Jesus. I think Mark 4:19 (LB) states it perfectly.

“But all too quickly the attractions of this world and the delights of wealth, and the search for success and lure of nice things come and crowd out God’s message (and time with Him) from their hearts, so that no crop is produced.”

People today are too busy to give any thought to their spiritual life and in reality it is the most important endeavor anyone will ever do. Listen, friend, this life may be eighty plus years that you may live, but eternity is without end. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know which life we should make priority. I wonder how many of those 1523 lives that were lost that night in April were ready to meet God. Perhaps many were saved before the ship sank. We can only hope so.

What about those lucky people in the life boats. I wonder did the experience change their perspective about life. I know that many times a disaster or a near death experience will change a person forever. They realize that things are not very important, and that life itself is the most precious gift one can have

As I allowed my mind to scan the movie again, I realized that the Titanic seems to parallel life today. There are millions of people all over the world aboard a doomed ship called life. There are life boats on board called “Jesus”, but most people don’t notice Him or the fact that the ship they are on is going down at record speed. It may be tomorrow, next week, next year, sixty years from now, or it could be before sunrise tomorrow, but it definitely is going down and it is time to get aboard your Life Boat.

As the stern of the Titanic began to rise out of the ocean on the final descent beneath the water, people all over the ship were holding on to keep from sliding into the sea. They were doing their best to save themselves, but the very thing they were clinging to, was the very thing that would take them to their death. How many people today are doing the very same thing, clinging to something in this life that gives them the feeling of security? Their wealth and status has become their life boat, how foolish!

I don’t know about you but the world situation doesn’t make me feel secure. Everything we use to have confidence in is going down and gaining momentum every day. The only sure, safe place to be is in Christ, in the Family of God with the Creator of all things watching over us.

I want to encourage you to get in the Life Boat now. Just as the passengers thought the Titanic was unsinkable, a lot of people think this world is unsinkable….FLASH! the Titanic went down and the world system is going down too. All anyone has to do is tune in to the News and listen. Then I recommend that you read God’s Book called the Bible for the Good News.

Like the Titanic some people will listen to the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus and be saved, but many will perish. You can make the choice to get into the Life Boat, the choice is yours alone. Many on board the Titanic didn’t have a choice, they were denied a seat in one of the life boats, but not so with you, right now Jesus has many open seats and He is holding out His hand to help you aboard. Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior now and make your reservation for your seat in His Life Boat. Your titanic could sink anytime. Don’t find yourself clinging to anything except Jesus. He is the Only Way, the Only Savior, the Only Life Boat.

Think about those people left on that sinking ship, they would have given anything, and I mean anything to have a seat in one of those life boats. But it was too late, they had all departed the ship and all anyone could do was watch them sail away with all their hopes and dreams of life.

At the beginning of this lesson I listed several “what ifs” that could have saved the passengers and crew of the Titanic. But I would like to ask you to examine yourself with these following “what ifs”. Will some of the following statements be your excuse when you reach eternity and find you didn’t make it to Heaven? Let me tell you something that many people don’t realize that your memory will be in tact, you will remember your earth experience. All the times you could have accepted Jesus as Lord and all the times you rejected Him.

Luke 16:27-28 (LB)

“The rich man said O Father Abraham, then please send him to my father’s home for I have five brothers to warn them about this place of torment lest they come here when they die.”

Jesus tells the story in Luke 16: 19-31 of the rich man and beggar who both died and where each one went after death. It is very clear that the rich man remembered his brothers and the life he lived before his death.

Will some of these thoughts be going through your mind when you reach the other side of life?

The list could go on and on. Listen carefully friend, after this life is over, all the excuses, regrets and wishing for a second change will not change your eternal destination. Your reservation for Heaven must be made before your ship sinks. Don’t let all the Life Boats depart without you on board.

The Titanic sank a long time ago and nothing can change the loss of life that night, but you still have time to prepare before death calls your name. You can pray this prayer and if you mean it in your heart and you will be saved, and you will have made your reservation for your seat on board Jesus’ Life Boat. I can guarantee you on the authority of the Word of God your Life Boat will not leave without you.

Romans 10:9-10

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him for the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Romans 10:13

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Dear God I am sorry for rejecting Jesus in the past, but I want to ask you to forgive me and cleanse me of all sin. I believe Jesus died on the cross and rose again from the dead for me. Your word that says if I receive Jesus as my Lord and confess Him as my Savior I will be saved. I accept Jesus right now as my Lord and Savior and I believe that I am now a Child of God. I thank you Father and I thank you Jesus for cleansing me of all sin. I believe I have passed from death unto life and I am now your child. I promise to follow you all the days of my life. Amen!

If you prayed this prayer you have just become a new person in Christ. You are now a member of God’s Family with all its blessings. Spend the rest of your life sharing Jesus and enjoying your new life.

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