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Don't Leave Without the Captain
A young ensign had
passed every test and had performed well on every assignment leading
to his becoming an officer. After completing his first overseas
cruise, he was given an opportunity to display his capabilities at
getting the ship under way. He took charge immediately with a
stream of commands, and the decks buzzed with activity as the
sailors prepared to depart. Soon the ship was steaming out of the
channel en route to the states.
The ensign’s
efficiency established a new record for getting a destroyer under
way, so he was not surprised when he received a message from the
captain. However, he was surprised to learn the message, received
by radio, read, "My personal congratulations upon completing your
exercise according to the book and with amazing speed. In your
haste, however, you have overlooked a fundamental rule -- make sure
the captain is aboard before getting under way."
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"...Make sure the
captain is aboard
before getting under way." |
A similar situation
occurred two thousand years ago in Jerusalem when a family left for
home after observing Passover at the temple. The family had
traveled a full day before realizing they had left a very important
person behind. The next day they returned to Jerusalem, and on the
third day they found their 12-year-old son Jesus right where they
had left Him – in the house of God, discussing issues of importance
with Jewish scholars.
Just as Joseph and
Mary were entrusted with the care of the Savior in their family,
those who have surrendered to God have been entrusted with Jesus in
their lives. Romans 8:9-11 states, “You, however, are controlled
not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God
lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he
does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is
dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of
righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the
dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also
give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in
you.”
There are times when
those who have proclaimed the name of Jesus participate in
activities Jesus would not do and go places where Jesus would not
go. Before making decisions and striking out on our own, we should
pause long enough to ask, “What would Jesus Do?” “Would He go
where I’m going? Would He do what I’m about to do? Am I leaving
with the Captain?”
The captain of the
destroyer sent a strong message to the ensign, “In your haste you
have overlooked a fundamental rule -- make sure the captain is
aboard before getting under way." Jesus would tell us today, “In
your carelessness, don’t leave the Captain behind.” When it appears
the Spirit of Jesus is no longer present, we must return where we
left Him – with God’s people in God’s House!
By: Eli Borden |
