Acts 27:9-20 

⁹Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them, ¹⁰“Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” ¹¹But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. ¹²Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.

¹³When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. ¹⁴Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. ¹⁵The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. ¹⁶As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, ¹⁷so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. ¹⁸We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. ¹⁹On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. ²⁰When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

Intro

Have you ever felt sad or bad because you have failed?

Experts have failed. At every turn of life, there’s always a chance to decide whether to go to the right or to the left, to move forward, turn backward or remain where you are. Many times we compromise with what we perceive as the safest step but we still stumble or fail. Why?

Have you ever had any decision where most people may have thought you as foolish but have proven that you made the right decision? It’s no secret that a number of excellent students who excelled in the chosen career path and there are also those who excelled as students but failed in their chosen careers. Life has examples that educational institutions are just one factor but not the ultimate cause of a person success or failure.

One of the greatest basketball player of all times, Michael Jordan said, “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed. I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying. Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”

Failure has a significant role in the life of every expert. Experts are called experts because they have failed many times. And those who did not experience failures are just beginners. God is the ultimate expert who cannot fail. Learn to listen to the Lord. Resolve to choose to follow God’s instructions rather than those who are expert in their fields.

1.  Choice

⁹Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them, ¹⁰“Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” ¹¹But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. ¹²Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest. ¹³When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.

The pilot and the owner of the ship were experts of sea travels. They knew when to embark and they knew when to anchor. Sailing was their life. They have tested many waters. Like any other person, the centurion did the right choice to follow the advice of the pilot and the ship owner. Could you easily agree with experts’ advice?

That time, however, as experts in sailing, they failed. Paul’s words came true. The gentle south wind might have been their usual sign that the weather was good for sailing. But why was it that disaster waited them? Why was it that a raging storm came?  The centurion, pilot, owner of the ship, and even the ship crews might have been puzzled of the sudden change of the weather. But with Paul, it came as no surprise.

Paul told them what might happen and it did happen, why? Was it a manifestation of God’s work in the life of Paul? There’s something we need to learn about decision making. The veteran or most experienced people about sailing have failed to predict the right weather. Experts may have much knowledge but they will also fail at one point.

Alexander Graham Bell

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. In 1876, Mr. Bell offered to sell the patent to Western Union for $100,000. Western Union ran America’s telegraph wires, and its top executives believed the telephone was just a fad. They thought it would not be profitable.

It is good to listen to the expert’s advice but still many experts have missed great opportunities. There are situations that still not covered by experts. The top executives in the Western Union did a good decision because telephone was not proven at that time. Many times we live like the top executive. We miss the best because we choose the good when there’s uncertainty. Uncertainty serves as test of faith of what God can do.

It is good to follow the advice of experts because they have proven things in the past. The centurion listened to the expert advice of the pilot and owner of the ship and he ignored Paul. But as believers, we should not ignore expert’s advice but we need to heed the voice of the Holy Spirit.  Part of our life is the consequence of a choice we made.

2.  Consequence

¹⁴Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. ¹⁵The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. ¹⁶As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, ¹⁷so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. ¹⁸We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. ¹⁹On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. ²⁰When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

When the storm came, it proved that Paul’s advice was much better. Paul did not base his assumption of what may happen from previous experiences. The Lord inspired him to predict it. Some theologians considered Paul as prophet because his warnings came true. God can use any preacher filled with the Holy Spirit to warn his people.

The vision of disaster Paul has warned did not come from his own personal assessment. Not even his experience. It came from the Lord. Most of the time, even this generation, warnings are considered pessimistic attitude. Yes, there are pessimistic and optimistic people but it’s a special case to receive a vision from the Lord.

What vision have we received? We warn our love ones about the coming of the Lord. We don’t want them to suffer the wrath of God. That is not pessimistic, it’s optimistic in a way that we hope for their betterment. There are times when to backtrack and some times to move forward to be more productive or advance in our endeavor.

As believers, we believe that God’s promise is always yes, no matter what experts may interpret them. In 2 Corinthians 1:18-22, ¹⁸But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” ²⁰For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. ²¹Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,  ²²set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

How many blessings from the promises of God have we missed because we would rather listen to opinionated experts instead of listening to the Holy Spirit? If we believe that the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our eternal life, then we need to be more attentive to His voice rather that listening to others who confirm or agree to our selfish opinions.

The Lord who gave the commandments to Moses is the same Christ who became human. The commands of the Lord in the Old Testament are the commands of Christ. We live by grace and not by law. But how can we know for certain that we are living by the grace of God? We just look at God’s commands and compare our lifestyle. God’s commands serve as instruments to shape believers into a person acceptable to Him.

Hollow Blocks

Have you ever experienced or observed how to make hollow blocks? The right ratio of a mixture of sand, cement and water is placed in a hollow block making machine. The machine serves as the standard of the desired size and measurement in the production of hollow blocks. The same machine should be used to produce the kind of hollow block.

Like the hollow block making machine that would serve as the standard of the same king of production, the commands of God serve as the standard for believers to know if their lifestyle is acceptable to God or not. If we are to assess our life as building blocks, how do we fit in to the building God wants to build? In 1 Corinthians 3:9-15, ⁹For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. ¹⁰By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. ¹¹For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

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