Don't Jump Ship

No one would ever have crossed the ocean if he could have gotten off the ship in a storm. Unknown Source

After reading this quote my mind went to the discovery of America. The Mayflower – Their journey was not an easy one. They ran into many hardships, disappointments, and heartaches. But they continued on in pursuit of their dream. After they had found it they went back to tell all and many began the journey to the land of America to get a piece of this dream.

The ships that crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Europe were sailing ships that often had three masts or poles that supported many sails. Passage across the Atlantic Ocean took around two months, depending on the weather. The ships were powered by wind filling the sails with air and pushing the ship along. If the wind was coming from the wrong direction, the ship was blown off course. A storm caused such a fate for the famous Mayflower. It was headed for Virginia, but landed in Massachusetts! The ships were generally small, often less than 200 feet long, and they were made of wood. The upper deck or floor was exposed to the weather and even the lower cabins got quite wet in stormy weather.

Aboard the ship were its crew, passengers, and all of the supplies needed - both for the voyage and for starting a new home. Crates of vegetables and fruit, bags of flour, dried beans, butter and oil and salt, barrels of salted-down meat, and casks of fresh water were brought along for everyone to eat. Chests of clothing, dishes, bedding, and some furniture, building supplies and tools, seeds to plant and farm animals had to be brought along. The ships were very crowded. Families were allowed to cook their food in metal boxes called braziers. But if the sea was rough, no fires were allowed, and food had to be eaten cold.

Ships carrying colonists sometimes had cabins or small rooms below deck for individual families. Cabins were cramped, with barely enough room for people and their belongings. Some ships had cradle-like boxes for people to sleep in so that they would not fall out or bed when the ship rocked back and forth. These cradles were only about five feet long. Water that was carried on board in barrels was for drinking only, so all washing was done with salt water. (Early Colonial America)

I wonder what would have happened if in the middle of the storms everyone would have given up and turned around and went back and said forget it. The seas are too rough and the journey to long and hard to bear. It’s just not worth it. Yet, because there were people who were willing to persevere through the storms of life and the sea, we are here in America today enjoying the freedoms of this fine country.

I am thinking of another country that I am longing to see. Heaven! The journey to that land like the journey to America has its obstacles to overcome. The journey will not always be sunshine and roses. We will have rainy days and nights. We will have to endure the storms of life crashing down around us, disappointments, hardships, and heartaches. When the hard times come, do not jump ship. Stay in the boat. Psalms 30:5, “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Like the pilgrims, we have everything we need on ship to survive the journey and to make it to the new land. We have the Word of God, which is the map for our journey, a pastor who will lead us and guide us in the right direction, and the fellowship of the saints of God. Most of all, we have God who is the Captain of our ship. We must tell others of the new land and get as many on board ship as possible for this journey.

Just like it was for the pilgrims who stayed with the ship and landed on the soil of America, it will be worth it all for us if we stay in the ship. When we reach the portals of heaven, oh what a day that will be. Revelations 21 and 22 tells us about the gates of pearl, streets of gold, city of pure gold, as it were transparent glass. How the glory of God is the light and there is a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal and that we shall see the face of God and his name will be in our foreheads and we shall reign with Him for ever and ever.

Now is not the time to jump ship. We are nearing the end of the journey. I believe I can see the lighthouse just ahead. Just a little longer and then we will pull into the portals of glory. Then we can step onto the shores of Heaven and hear “Well done!”