1122. A Discounted Warning

A Discounted Warning

"And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.

"Nevertheless, the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul" (Act_27:10-11).

The Apostle Paul was not employed by any weather bureau, he was not a weather prophet; but the Apostle Paul had a leadership that was Divine. God spoke to him and he knew His voice.

Because of this Divine voice, the Apostle Paul prophesied that any attempted voyage at that time would meet with disaster and much loss, not only to the ship and to its contents, but also to the lives of passengers and crew.

We suppose there were those who decried Paul as a calamity heralder. Some of them doubtless said, "You sound like a frog, croaking in the night." Others said, "You are a pessimist; you see nothing but the dark side."

The people of this world are saying: "Prophesy unto us smooth things. Tell us, 'Peace, Peace.' Assure our hearts that smooth sailing lies ahead."

Is it not strange that people do not appreciate and will not accept a true warning? They would rather have you preach a lie, if it is pleasing to the flesh, than to preach the truth, if it is contrary to their desires. When the captain of the "Titanic" caught from the wireless the warning of icebergs-ahead, he ruthlessly refused to be warned and? madly went ahead at full speed. Of course, his ship was wrecked and hundreds of souls were drowned.

The minister of to-day, who dares to stand before the people and proclaim the Word of God concerning Armageddon, is decried and denounced. To be sure, the Bible proclaims the conditions of the last days and the judgment that will fall on the world. These judgments are coming on apace; and, if we are true, like Paul, we will tell of the storm that lies ahead.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR