Various thoughts flooded my mind as I gazed at the heavens and across the sea. In the distance, I could make out four points of light – other ships making their way to their destinations. Each is guided by the sure hand of its pilot. This leviathan of the sea on which I am sailing carries over 3,500 souls who have entrusted their safety to the pilot. He has a sure guide on which he can rely. Ancient mariners used the sextant, plotting their course by the position of the heavenly bodies. Modern mariners rely on more sophisticated instruments, but they all take their cue from the things God has made – whether the compass that relies on the earth’s magnetic poles or the global positioning systems that rely on the laws of physics that God set in place at creation. On occasion, we have passed through rough seas, but our pilot kept us securely on the course, and there was no reason to fear. He has been this way before and therefore is a reliable guide in whom we can have the utmost confidence.<\/p>\n
In the passage of life, we also have a sure pilot. Our Lord has been this way before and thus can direct us through calm and stormy seas. Peter said that Christ had left us an example to follow (I Peter 2:21), and if we will put our trust in him, the writer of Hebrews said we would have no reason to be afraid. “Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee. So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do unto me?<\/em>” (Hebrews 13:5-6). If I were to guide our ship to its destination, we would all be in big trouble, and so it is in life. “O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23). Therefore, we are admonished to “Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding<\/em>” (Proverbs 3:5). He will safely pilot us. The old song pleads “Jesus, Savior, pilot me, over life’s tempestuous sea…”<\/p>\n The sea is teeming with fish and the birds of the air number in the thousands. The mountains have an abundance of all manner of living things, both great and small. And God knows each one of them. “I know all the birds of the mountains; and the wild beasts of the field are mine<\/em>” (Psalms 50:11).<\/p>\n We have a saying about something (or someone) that is old, that it is “as old as the hills.” Some might think that these islands and mountains have been here forever. But we know there was an existence even before they were born. “Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God<\/em>” (Psalms 90:2).<\/p>\n Our great vessel has turned towards its next destination, and in a few days, we will be home. Home is a special place in every language and nation, and reminds us of that eternal home that our Savior has gone to prepare for us. “Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go, ye know the way<\/em>” (John 14:1-3). If we will all follow the pilot, we’ll all be there one day.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Jefferson David Tant It is midnight as I begin writing – midnight on the open sea. Most of the ship’s passengers are asleep as we move quietly through the water. I just stepped outside in the brisk night air and scanned the star-studded heavens. What a clear view of God’s creation – the myriad…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[518,41],"class_list":["post-59800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-guidance","tag-life"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":23085,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-heavens-declare-the-glory-of-god-psalms-19\/","url_meta":{"origin":59800,"position":0},"title":"The Heavens Declare the Glory of God (Psalms 19)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 1, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Mike Johnson Psalm 19 is beautifully written and has been revered by many people over the years. From it, many conclude that there is a God who created the universe, and He has revealed Himself to mankind through the Scriptures. From Psalms 19:12-14, the awesomeness of these concepts should\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Starry-Sky-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":32130,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/when-was-hell-created\/","url_meta":{"origin":59800,"position":1},"title":"When was Hell created?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 11, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Your site is really a great help for all preachers who are seeking the truth. I am a young preacher, just 19 years old, and a student. I would like to ask you: What particular event in the Bible marks when God created hell? Is it included in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":43668,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-did-god-create-such-a-vast-universe\/","url_meta":{"origin":59800,"position":2},"title":"Why did God create such a vast universe?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 18, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Before I discovered your site, one of the things I have been wondering is \"Why did God create the Universe, besides Earth?\" There are so many ideas that boggle me with this question that lead to confusion, and curiosity. Sometimes, I wonder \"Why has God created the Universe that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24964,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-is-both-the-king-of-babylon-and-jesus-called-the-morning-star\/","url_meta":{"origin":59800,"position":3},"title":"Why is both the king of Babylon and Jesus called the morning star?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 11, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Could you explain to me Isaiah 14:12-15? And then Revelation 22:16? Answer: \"How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations! But you said in your heart, 'I will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":27798,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-does-the-bible-say-about-man-inhabiting-space\/","url_meta":{"origin":59800,"position":4},"title":"What does the Bible say about man inhabiting space?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 17, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Dear sir, What does the Bible say about man inhabiting space? Particularly the satellites, the Hubble telescope, astronauts, and the space station. Did the Bible foresee how men would try to conquer space and to some degree has? 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At this moment we are passing through the Mediterranean Sea. What a majestic sight we witnessed on the island of Santorini. Words are inadequate to describe the scene, and even photographs cannot fully capture the magnificence of the deep blue sea, the white buildings clinging to the cliffs of the island, and the charm of the people who inhabit this part of the world. Truly, “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament showeth his handiwork<\/em>” (Psalms 19:1).<\/p>\n