Your Final Journey Home
by Pastor Jim May
Scripture resources – Acts 27:13 – 44
God had given Paul a definite vision. That vision was to preach the gospel at Rome. But before Paul would be given that opportunity to preach to Caesar, he would have to face a time of trials and testing that would stop the ordinary man dead in his tracks.
Paul knew where he was going. He knew why he was going. And he knew that he would reach that final destination no matter what happened. It was with this faith in mind and this commitment that Paul set out on his final journey toward home.
Home for Paul was not in Israel, or Tarsus, the city of his birth. It was not at the feet of Gamaliel, his teacher in the ways of the Pharisees. Paul’s home was not in Rome where he would spend his last days on earth. Paul’s home was in Heaven. He knew that he was just a pilgrim and a stranger traveling through the world on his way home.
But even though Paul was being directed by the Holy Ghost and was obeying the direct call of God to go to Rome, his journey would not be easy.
I sometimes think that many Christians get the impression that their journey toward Heaven should be a piece of cake. They must feel that way because as soon as adversity comes, a lot of them just throw in the towel and walk away from the church.
Don’t ever forget that this journey is not like a boxing match where we have to hang in there for just for three rounds and then wait for the bell to ring. This isn’t a one act play where we get to exit after our performance and then go do our thing all the other times. This life, that we live for Jesus, is a commitment for the duration.
I remember when we were drafted for Vietnam back in the 60’s and how that most of us only had to serve two years on active duty, one in training and the other in Vietnam. It took a commitment to answer that call true enough, but it wasn’t nearly the commitment required of those drafted during World War II. They were in for the duration. There was no coming home until the war was over, one way or the other.
That’s the way we must look at our service to the Lord. This journey that we are on toward Heaven is a journey for the duration. There can be no stopping, no loitering, no turning from side to side and no turning back. If we are going to make Heaven our home, we just have to keep moving straight for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus that Paul talked about.
I don’t know about you but sometimes I am grateful that God hasn’t given me the same ministry that he gave to Paul. Now there was a real man of God. He had faced death and imprisonment a number of times and this final journey wasn’t going to be any easier.
Acts 27:1-3, "And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus’ band. And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself."
It all started out okay. He was under the protection of the Roman soldiers so none of the Jews could do him harm. He was going on a free cruise to Rome. He found favor with the Centurion, so just maybe this wouldn’t be such a bad voyage after all.
Acts 27:10-11, "And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul."
It wasn’t long before the circumstances of life began to rapidly go downhill. Paul had a vision in which the Lord warned him of the dangers ahead and Paul tried to tell the Centurion but, like the world of today, who is going to listen to a preacher’s warnings when you have a professional sailor in charge.
The world still discounts us as know nothing’s, and deluded fools. If they only knew who we know and what we know because of Him. But they don’t know Jesus and they don’t trust us, so they are going to sail on in oblivion with their pride held high.
Acts 27:13, "And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete."
On a bright sunny and breezy day, Paul’s ship sailed out of its harbor.
Isn’t that just like the Christian life? When we begin the journey it all seems so wonderful, so happy, so victorious and carefree. I look at married couples right after the wedding ceremony and they seem to be so happy, so carefree, but it doesn’t take long for the honeymoon to end and then comes the work of building a real marriage. It’s never easy and it’s filled with all sorts of dangers and pitfalls.
Not long after, Paul’s ship ran into one of those great northeastern storms that rip through the Mediterranean Ocean on a regular basis. This wasn’t just a little thunderstorm; it was more like a hurricane in its intensity.
Acts 27:14-20, "But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away."
I spoke a little this morning on some of the storms of life that we must face. I can tell you that I don’t like hurricanes, but I would rather face one of those than to go through some of the storms that have come against me in my spirit.
The sailors on that ship were experienced seamen. They knew how to handle a ship in a storm, but this time it was different. They didn’t know what to do. In fact, all they could do was let the ship go wherever the wind would blow it. I’ve felt like I was being blown around like that a few times myself.
Those sailors did everything they could. They pulled in the lifeboats and tied them to the ship to keep from loosing them. They threw everything overboard so that the ship could stay afloat. They fasted, and prayed to whatever god they worshipped to keep them off the rocks and reefs, and they held on for dear life.
Sometimes I feel like the only thing I can do is just hold on. What else can you do after you have done all you can to get the sin out of your life, and to obey the Lord in studying and praying and being faithful to the work of the Lord, and yet the storm goes on and on and on? I believe that there comes a time, no matter how strong your faith is now, that God will really put you to the test. How many have I seen just give up on God just before the battle is won?
Now you have to admire Paul’s audacity here. Just think about it. The ship is about to sink from the waves crashing over it for days. They couldn’t bail or pump the water out fast enough to keep up. Most likely, a lot of the rigging was damaged and they had little or no control over it at all. Most of the food and water was probably gone since they hadn’t planned on taking more than a few days to reach their next harbor. Everyone was exhausted, discouraged, seasick and ready to give up hope.
Then Paul comes in and says, “I told you so!” Now don’t you just hate it when someone else is right? It’s a wonder that the crew didn’t jump Paul right then and there.
Acts 27:21, "But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss."
But what happens next is more than the world can grasp. Paul says these words in Acts 27:22-26, "And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island."
Hey boys, I’ve got some good news and some bad news, which do you want to hear first? Well the good news is that we are all going to make it out of this storm. The bad news is that we are headed for a shipwreck just ahead and we are going to lose this ship.
I kind of wonder if Paul didn’t give this news to the sailors with a smirk on his face. Probably not because I don’t think that they would have taken the joke very well.
So if you are facing a trial, a test, or a storm in your life right now, I have some good news and some bad news for you.
The good new is that Jesus has already promised that he would not let you be tempted above what you were able to bear and that he would always give you a way of escape. The bad news is that even when this storm finally is over, there is another one coming so get ready for some rough times ahead.
The scriptures say that Paul had been “long absent” from the crew of the ship. In other words he was staying in his cabin or berth and didn’t help them with the ship at all. Perhaps Paul was sleeping in peace while storm raged because he knew that God had already promised him that he would go to Rome and he knew that there was no way that he was going to die in this storm. Perhaps, and most likely, Paul was spending time in prayer, making sure that he and the Lord were on the same page, and praying for the safety of the ship and crew.
I’m sure that the crew welcomed the good news that they would not die, but they still had to fight the storm. 14 days later, the storm is still raging. It is getting close to midnight, the darkest hour, and then they began to notice that the water was getting shallow. Shallow water meant land was near, and sharp jagged rocks, and rougher waves, so they threw out 4 anchors from the back of the ship to keep it from getting into the shallow waters.
Sometimes the storms that come into your life will get worse before the answer comes. Have you ever prayed for God to stop the trial and then it only seemed to get worse? I wonder how close you were to the end of the trial? I wonder how many have given up when they were just a few hours away from the shore?
I love that song that says “The Anchor Holds, though the ship is battered. The Anchor Holds in the midst of the storm.” If you are anchored in Jesus, your anchor will hold and He will see you through.
Finally, the hour came when daylight appeared and they could assess their situation. The crewmen saw one little glimmer of hope and so they hoisted sail, loosed the rudder and made for the little piece of protected shoreline.
Acts 27:39-41, "And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves."
The ship ran aground with the stern still out into the rough waves and the action of the wind and waves began to tear the ship apart and it was going down. Plans were drawn to kill all the prisoners on board to not allow the criminals to escape, but the Centurion wanted to save Paul and stopped the executions.
Aren’t you glad that God is in control even in the worst of situations? How blessed were the other prisoners and sailors because the man of God was in their midst! I wonder if any of them had survived the storm if Paul had not been there? Paul was in a bad spot, a dangerous place, but his very presence, representing the presence and will of God, was the main reason that everyone else was saved.
Acts 27:42-44, "And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land."
I wonder how many lives you influence on your job, in your family, and among your friends? How many of them will be saved from eternal death because you are obeying the Lord and serving him, even in the midst of the storm? God gives us opportunities every day to tell others about Jesus. Let’s not let them pass by.
So we see that Paul and all the others made it to shore. They were wet, cold, tired and hungry but they were alive. They would live to sail another day and Paul was continue on to preach at Rome during the last years of his life. God was faithful to protect Paul in his dangerous journey to the end of his life.
God has not changed. He will still be faithful to see you through every storm of life. God will deliver you and He will bring you safely to the end of your life’s journey as well. Thank you Lord, for your faithfulness to us. May we be ever faithful to you!
