Sail Away…

Very few people have a precise target, a safe shore to reach. For other people, this other shore is in fact death itself. Although no one really wants to get there, it is unavoidable, all the roads and paths in life lead there.

But there are some "happy few" who know where they are going and why. They know that beyond the terrifying waves of a raging sea there is the peaceful shore of redemption. Of eternal salvation. Are we in the same situation?

We all start our lives with great confidence in the future, ready to face any obstacle that may stand between us and our own established goals. But are we able to really reach this other shore? "Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowd." (Matthew 14:22)

Knowing all the risks and misfortunes we might have in this poor life of ours, most of us would probably refuse to take human shape, to be alive on earth. But God does not ask for our opinion in this respect. He actually "makes us get into the boat", and then sailing to the other side. Why does God choose to act this way? Why doesn’t He ask for our consent? Why doesn’t He let us choose if we want or not to live on earth?

The most logical and natural answer to that is you cannot ask for an unborn person’s consent. If that person does not exist yet, he/she cannot be consulted in regards to his/her desire to live or not. Even the newly born baby is unable to form an opinion whether he wants or not to go on with his life. The fact is God, as our Father, has all the rights in the world to give us birth and to take decisions regarding our existence. In the same way in which parents feel free to choose to feed their children properly and clothe the babies as to protect them from cold, the same way our Heavenly Father has His rights, in an infinite measure, as the Creator, Father and Absolute Master of the universe.

Here are some of St. Paul’s words addressed to those who might argue they weren’t consulted about their desire to live or not: "But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it "Why did you make me like this?" Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?" Romans 9:20-21

Still in Mathew 14, verse 23, the Bible says that "After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by himself to pray." After he "makes us get into the boat", God dismisses us, we think He leaves us alone. We don’t like this, as it doesn’t seem to match our concept of God and the scriptures.

Many a times had the disciples sailed across the sea, so they weren’t afraid anymore. There were some experienced fishermen among them, people who are used to sea storms. They had sailed across the Sea of Galilee for many times, and even if Jesus was sleeping on the bottom of the boat, they were at peace merely thinking He was with them. But this time, Jesus left them all alone. It was both a physical solitude, because the Savior was not physically present, and a spiritual one, for He was not yet in their hearts. So the real storm was in their souls.

In full midday, the Lord had performed the miracle of multiplying the five loafs of bread and the two fish, and had fed five thousand men, not to mention the women and the children. And yet his disciples were now feeling deserted, faithless, in despair, forgetting the true nature of their Master. This is the very same mistake we tend to make in our daily life. No we are never alone, He is there every second of our lives! He will be there whenever you ask Him! No one's boat can make it without Jesus! Ask for His help and He will bring peace, comfort and salvation in soul's your journey on the stormy sea. Trust Him forever!