Caught Up By The Crowd

“And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.” (Ac 27:20 AV)

When Luke says ‘we’, he includes himself.  The context here is the rough seas which results in a shipwreck on the Island of Melita.  Paul is under arrest and is headed to Rome for trial under the seat of Caesar.  Before launching from Crete, Paul warns the ship’s master that disaster awaits.  It is too late in the year, but the master of the ship believes he can winter closer to Rome before they have to lay up for a few months.  This results in a storm that lasts fourteen days.  The ship of which Paul was a prisoner lightened its load by tossing everything but the need provision overboard.  Everything!  What is of particular note here is Luke included himself in those who considered being saved a lost hope.  The only one on that boat that knew God would see them through was Paul.  There are so many applications here but we want to consider one in particular.  Luke allowed himself to be taken with the majority fear and doubt, rather than, siding with Paul’s faith.  In other words, group emotion is powerful.  It can often distort realty.  Or, worse yet, distort faith in what God is able to do.

We cut short what God is able to do just because it is an overwhelming feeling of the majority.  This reminds me of one of the most amazing sporting events I have ever seen.  I am like most.  If my team is losing by a large margin, I usually do not stay until the end of a game.  Like most spectators, I head for the exit because it will be easier to get home.  If watching at home, the TV or radio is turned off or changed.  There is better use of my time.  The problem with giving up is we sometimes miss a miracle comeback.  To this day, my hometown team still holds the record for the greatest comeback in NFL history.  Down 35-3 at the half, they rallied to win the game 41-38.  It was an amazing event.  No doubt, countless people left the stadium at the half.  With the history of my team not being a very good one, may switched channels.  We got caught up in the majority’s emotion and gave up.  But there were 47 men who never did.  Those who never lost hope were able to see an event that has since never been repeated.

We live in perilous times.  We know the LORD will return.  We know the world will get worse than better.  We know those who hate God will continue their persecution of those of us who strive to love Him.  We know the gospel will become less and less desirable.  We know all those things.  But there is still a Melita prepared for those who trust in Him.  We will not end in disaster.  The worse that can happen is eternity comes a bit early.  God is always in control.  No matter how much the doom and gloomers want to think otherwise.  Luke lost hope.  Paul never did.  Paul was single handedly responsible for the optimism needed to saver every soul on board that ship.  Which is another lesson for which we do not have enough room.  Never underestimate the power of optimism. All it takes is one person to have faith in God and the whole demeanor of a group can change.  Our attitude can either be influenced, or be the influencer.  The choice is ours.