The Titanic was the largest ship ever launched in 1912. The first-class accommodations were designed to be the pinnacle of comfort and luxury, with an on-board gymnasium, swimming pool, libraries, high-class restaurants and opulent cabins. The ocean liner carried some of the wealthiest people in the world, as well as hundreds of emigrants who were seeking a new life in the United States. The ship left port with 2224 passengers on board, but they had only 20 lifeboats which were designed to carry 1178 people. The ship hit the iceberg four days into it’s journey on April 14 at around 11:40 pm. Those aboard the ill-fated ship were not prepared for such an emergency. “Women and children first” was the general protocol when filling the lift boats, but even then, the first ones weren’t filled to capacity because the ship’s occupants didn’t believe that it was necessary to evacuate. They were on the largest ship in the world – they were confident that they would be okay. At 2:20 am, two hours and forty minutes after hitting the iceberg, the ship went down, with over 1500 people losing their lives in the freezing water.
Thinking about this tragic event, it reminded me of people today who feel like they’re okay where they are. They’ve got plenty of time. They know what they need to do to be saved – they’ve heard the word, but they’re not ready to repent, confess, and be baptized for the remission of their sins. They believe that they’ve got plenty of time to “get on the lifeboat.” Tragically, they will have the same fate as those who went down on the Titanic 107 years ago today. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Enter ye in the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.” (Matthew 7:13) Yes, many will enter the wide gate to destruction because they “put off” or didn’t think it was necessary to change “right now.” II Corinthians 6:2 says, ” . . . behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Don’t miss the lifeboat! God Bless, Courtney