Acts 27:9-11,21-25 NKJV

9Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” 11Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.

21But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.

Vessels in Trouble

The apostle Paul was still a prisoner. He had been so for several years now, although he had done no wrong. He only spoke truth to the people that many did not want to hear. Now he was on a ship on his way to Rome where he was to appear before Caesar. But the ship was in trouble because of the wind, and so Paul cautioned them if they continued on this course that it would end in disaster and in the loss of many lives. But the centurion did not listen to Paul, but he was more persuaded by the owner of the ship.

And, as I think on this, I cannot help but see a spiritual parallel to what was happening then to what is happening in the church today, although it is not entirely “apples to apples,” i.e. completely similar in every respect. But a ship is a vessel, and the church, the body of believers in Christ, is to be a chosen vessel of God, in whom God dwells, by His Spirit, who is chosen of God to live holy lives, pleasing to God, in obedience to our Lord, who is to take the unadulterated message of the Gospel to the people of the world.

But the true owner of many of these vessels, called “churches,” these days is not the Lord Jesus Christ but the world, and the government, and big business, which are leading probably the majority of the church in the wrong direction and to grave disaster and to the loss of many human lives for eternity. For so many of these vessels are not listening to the Lord, but to the world, and to preachers who are marketers and business men who are leading so many people to hell on the false promise of heaven for eternity.

Messengers of God

So, the Lord has sent some of his messengers, much like Paul, into some of these “church” gatherings to try to warn them against continuing on the same course, and of how it will end in disaster and in the loss of many lives. But it appears, from what I can see, that not many are listening to the Lord through his messengers, but they are continuing on course because they are listening to the voices of the false gods of the people, instead, who are steering them in the wrong direction and to ultimate eternity spent in hell.

But when it became apparent (back to the story now) that Paul was right, and that they should have listened to him, for things were now becoming a lot more obvious that he was right, for they were being faced with much disaster and loss that could no longer be ignored, then they began to listen to his counsel. It was too late to save the vessel, though, but individual lives would be saved. The ship would be destroyed, but not the people. So they were not to fear, because God had promised them the salvation of lives.

And what this reminds me of are all the warnings in the Scriptures about the last days before the return of Christ. So much of what are called “churches” today are human-based businesses and organizations which are partnered with the world and with the government (both of which God forbids), which essentially fit with biblical Babylon. And God has been warning his people for some time to come out from among them so that we do not share in their sins and in their punishment. But so many have refused and remained.

[Matthew 21:12-13; John 2:13-17; Acts 5:27-32; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Philippians 3:18-19; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22; Revelation 13:5-8; Revelation 18:1-5]

Judgment on Babylon

And, yet, the Lord has promised that he will judge this Babylon. The vessel will be destroyed. But human lives can be saved if they will listen to the Lord’s true biblical messengers who are speaking the truth of God’s Word to them, as Jesus and as his New Testament apostles taught it, in the correct biblical context. Judgment is coming, which should be obvious to anyone paying attention at all to what is going on in the world and in “the church.” Absolute chaos is all over everywhere, it would appear. So listen to the Lord!

For Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

For Our Nation

An Original Work / September 11, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Recording Via Gerry Peters, music producer and arranger

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.


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Ruined Vessels
An Original Work / June 2, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love