Getting into the Lifeboat

The calm seas and clear skies belied the approaching danger on that fateful night in April, 1912, when the great ship known as the Titanic went down in the icy waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. Warning after warning had been received about the danger of icebergs and ice pack. Yet, in spite of the multiple warnings, the ship was flung nearly full speed ahead at 22 knots per hour. At 11:40 pm the ship struck an iceberg, tearing a fatal gash about 300 feet long in the hull. Only 706 people out of the 2,223 on board were able to get safely into the lifeboats provided. At 2:20 am the mighty Titanic went down, along with her remaining passengers and crew.
If only the warnings would have been heeded! If only there would have been more preparation for such a catastrophe! It all came down to the pride of man which was reflected in the self- assurance of the designers, the owners, and the captain who believed her to be unsinkable. No consideration was given to the invisible possibilities.
As I look at the world today and consider what Jesus said about the signs of the times preceding His return, I can’t help but hear the warning signals being sent to His people to get ready, to prepare for what is coming. Nevertheless, the world plunges forward, full speed ahead, unaware of the unseen, impending disaster. Jesus said, “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matt. 24:37-39)
Noah’s generation did not know judgment was coming until the flood came and took them all away. They were unaware of what was coming and so they hadn’t prepared. They shrugged off the warnings and continued with business as usual. And now, just as Jesus forewarned us, the scene is being repeated in our day.
Even more grievous, many of God’s people are in the same self-hypnotized stupor that the world is in. Too many are running around the deck of the ship with the rest of the world, caught up in the pleasure and cares of this world and not at all ready for what is coming. Like the Titanic, many Christians are charging through life “full speed ahead.” Jesus warned, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life and that Day come on you unexpectedly.” (Luke 21:34)
If we truly take heed to Jesus’ admonition, we’ll hear Him telling us that it’s time to come out of the busyness of our lives. It’s time to get at His feet and allow Him to prepare us for what is coming. It’s time to turn off the TV, put down the newspaper, and start redeeming our time. We need to make a choice every day to get into His word, to seek Him more diligently than ever, and commit to being about His business. Jesus instructed His disciples to “watch and pray.” That
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means being alert to what is going on around you and looking expectantly to your heavenly Father to give you what you need. It means praying for that greater measure of the Holy Spirit that is needed to persevere to the end.
The warning signals are clear; the Bridegroom is calling His bride to get ready. Listen to the call of your Beloved to come into His sheltering refuge now. Jesus is the only lifeboat that will get us through the coming storm. Are you seeing your need for Him, and Him alone, in this chaotic world we are living in? He wants to be an abiding place for you. He wants you in His lifeboat now; not just for yourself, but also to be a life preserver to those around you who will be drowning in the dark, icy waters of the last days.
Heaven has been sending out signal after signal. There are numerous reports of a great iceberg coming toward us quickly on the horizon. Now is the time to get ready!!

By Jeff Colón
Jeff Colón is a minister of the Assemblies of God. He has served as the Campus Pastor and Residential Program Director for over 10 years, and is now the Executive Director at Pure Life Ministries.