THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
A magician was working on a cruise ship in the Caribbean.
The audience would be different each week so the magician allowed himself to do the same tricks over and over again.
There was only one problem: the captain's parrot saw the shows each week and began to understand how the magician did every trick. Once he understood he started shouting in the middle of the show: "Look, it's not the same hat". "Look, he is hiding the flowers under the table". "Hey, why are all these cards the Ace of Spades?"
The magician was furious but couldn't do anything; it was, after all, the captain's parrot.
One day the ship had an accident and sank. The magician found himself on a piece of wood in the middle of the ocean with the parrot, of course! They stared at each other with hate, but did not utter a word. This went on for a day and another and another.
After a week the parrot said: "OK, I give up. Where's the ship?"
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________SCRIPTURE_____________________________________________________
Acts 27:31
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
KJV
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_______THOUGHT_________________________________________________________
The "ship" was carrying Paul to Rome.
It was being tossed about by a great storm.
All those in the ship were greatly afraid.
Some tried to escape.
Paul's statement, here, is not about eternal salvation.
It is about the physical saving of human life.
God had told Paul He had "given thee all them that sail with thee." (Acts 27:24)
After we have received God's eternal salvation, there is much to be said about remaining in the "ship" of God's church! For, if we seek to escape it, our physical safety is in peril.
The church represents God's "bride."
To her, God has promised His personal presence, protection and provision.
Though salvation be given, the "ship" is the vehicle through which our souls are carried to the shores of eternity.
The "storms of life" are inevitable; some more dangerous than others.
Remain in the "ship" and:
you will know the comforting presence of God;
you will have the precious aid of brothers and sisters schooled in faith;
you will learn more easily the principles of faith from God's Word;
you will have the privilege of ministering to and helping others.
Love ya,
Bruce