Image by Official U.S. Navy Imagery via Flickr

I listened to two men on a radio show.  They were presenting themselves as financial advisors.  One of them went off on his soap box a while.  He was recalling the oil spill in the gulf and mentioned the situation in Greece.  He pointed out how the media was trying to lead us into a belief that the world was going to end.  His point was that though bad things happen, all is well on the western front (so to speak).

I felt there was something wrong with what he was saying.  I pondered the point he made in my soul and came away with this:

 A fleet of ships has been given the task of venturing across the ocean to a far shore.  They were sent on a specific task to a specific place, a pin point location thousands of miles away.  On either side of the fleet are waters teaming with pirates, hidden projections in the waters, storms which tend to draw or push the fleet off course, and many other hazards.  Their navigator, on the lead ship, is the son of the father of the owner.  So the sailors aren’t willing to disrobe him of his duties, though he sucks at his job.  There are friendly ships guarding the fleet on the right and left.  So when the ships tend to drift off course these friendly ships shoot across the bow of the fleet’s lead ship.  This lead ship sends back messages that everyone is to correct their course.  Having corrected their course, the Captain and officers of the lead ship again turn to the stupidity of the navigator.

This is how it is for the world.  They drift into sin and forget who’s in charge and the orders they have from Him.  Yet, in His mercy, He directs troubles to threaten our way.  In fear men turn back to what is right.  But when calm comes again to their path, they begin to drift back into sin.  What will God eventually do to those who act this way?  He does not desire to have people who must be led by a ring in their nose.  He is looking for willing participants in His ways.

By His Grace.