Vol. 18 No. 23 | June 13, 2016
Acts 27:30-32, In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.
Acts 27:30-32, “30-32 Some of the sailors tried to jump ship. They let down the lifeboat, pretending they were going to set out more anchors from the bow. Paul saw through their guise and told the centurion and his soldiers, “If these sailors don’t stay with the ship, we’re all going down.” So the soldiers cut the lines to the lifeboat and let it drift off.” (The Message)
In this scene (above) from Paul’s attempt to finally make it to Rome a storm hits and fear seized the sailors. Thinking the best solution would be to escape by lifeboat, the sailors were lowering the boats. Paul reminds them of the promise that all would be saved and it was necessary to stay with the boat. So, they cut the ropes to the lifeboat.
During the course of a life there are many times when we will struggle to discover that cutting the ropes to the lifeboat, even when it may not seem logical, is the best option.
There is a teenage girl who is growing up in an abusive home. She desperately wants to escape so she gets involved with a boy who promises to deliver her and take care of her. He does…for a while. Then, it gets ugly. She realizes too late that he has similar tendencies of angry and abusive outbursts. She wants to leave but does not know where to go. At some point she will need to cut the ropes in order to find the safe place she longs for.
There is a young man who longs for a real relationship. He never had it at home. He want to feel close to another human being. Failure after failure leads him to the women on his computer screen. Before he realizes what is happening he is addicted. He wants to stop, but he can’t. He wants to find a way out, but his shame and guilt keep him paralyzed. He is miserable but his misery is easier to live with than his loneliness. Deep down he knows that to eventually he will have to cut the ropes in order to get help.
There is a man who works hard long hours to provide for his family. At least that is what he keeps telling himself. No matter how hard he works, how big his salary, or how important he feels, he still feels empty. His emptiness turns to sadness and regret which spirals into a deep dark depression. To sooth his inner pain he turns to a little alcohol, then to experimenting with drugs. He sinks deeper and deeper and his dependence grows more powerful. He longs to do better. He knows that to ever really improve he will need to cut the ropes that fail to deliver on the promises to make life better.
There is a group of people who like to be in control. They love for things to stay the same, comfortable, normal, like they have always been. They are fearful of change. The more the world around them changes the more they are determined to keep things like they have always been. They become more controlling, more rigid, and more strict convinced that sameness means security. Eventually a few in the group begin to realize that holding to the past and keeping everyone in line is not providing them with the lasting security they long for. They realize that cutting the ropes will need to be cut before they really experience true freedom.
These ropes may represent something in your world that you are depending on, holding on to, and relying on to keep you safe, secure and get you where you know God wants you to be. Maybe its time you cut the ropes.
Tom
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.