CRUISE SHIP TO ETERNITY

Philip G. Ney

       “Full ahead” shouted the captain.  “Hard a port”  “No I mean starboard”
      “Don’t listen to him”, yelled the first officer.  “Go astern”. 
      “The engines won’t start”, reported the Chief Engineer.  “There isn’t much fuel and what we have is fouled”
       “Then make some more” some of the officers suggested.  Others screamed, “Abandon ship”  “Lower the life boats”  “There isn’t enough room for all.” 
      "Then leave the old and ill behind”
     “Lower the anchor”
      “No, there isn’t anything really wrong with our ship.  Things will correct themselves.”
      “There is a fire in the galley”  “Did you hear they are breaking windows they are so mad at the officers?”
      “The ship is leaking; does anyone know how to plug the leaks in a double hull?”
      While all was frantic confusion amoung the deck officers and engineers aboard the river cruise ship MV World, the steward cheerily announced the first sitting for dinner.  He also stated that the casino was so full, people would to make reservations to get in.
      Most of the passengers were either oblivious or unconcerned about what miserable fate might await them.  Some tried to sun themselves but complained of the growing fog and chill. Since it was Sunday, most of the Christians gathered to worship in groups according to their traditions.  They sang lustily and heard encouraging sermons about God’s desire to bless them with abundance. 
      Almost all passengers and crew believed they would soon leave the placid lake on which they had been cruising so smoothly, enter the river at its end and tie up at a large luxurious port. They had heard that there was an increasingly swift current down river that could sweep them over a mighty falls. The Christians had faith, more in the captain and ship then they did in God.  After all they had enjoyed so many blessings that they felt they really deserved it all and God would be faithful to them.  A few were disturbed about the crew throwing about half the babies born aboard their ship into the deep waters, but they did little to stop the practice.  Even though there was no valid justification, everyone seemed to accept it as inevitable because after all it was a cruise ship and everyone should be having a good time.
       There were a few desperate crew who seemed to comprehend the gravity of the situation but they didn’t want to frighten the passengers lest they panic and run for their cabins to rescue their possessions.  One could see them in small groups talking of mutiny.  “The captain seems to have disappeared”.  Yeah, he has retired to his cabin and doesn’t want to be disturbed.  Let’s choose someone else”
       This they did.  The new captain quickly took control, shouting orders left and right, up and down.  “Full ahead and don’t anyone disobey me”
        “But captain, we still can’t start the engines”
        “Make more fuel.  If that doesn’t work, give everyone an oar or paddle”  "Order them to paddle hard when I tell you when, my good officers and crew.”
       “Yes sir, precisely sir”  “Just give the order”
       Few noticed a strange looking man, peering intently at the shore.  “We seem to be dead in the water but we’re moving.  The current has caught us”.  He tried to get the attention of the captain. When that failed he pleaded with any crew or passenger that would listen.  “We must anchor until the engines are started”
       When nobody responded he went back to staring thru the fog toward the shore.  “I see someone waving and calling.  I think he is saying that there is a safe harbour on the shore.  We need to launch a boat and take a long line to that shore before we drift downstream any further.  Come on help me.”
         The life boats all stayed locked in their cradles with the crew threatening to shoot anyone who tried to launch a boat without the captain’s orders.
         The strange man then found a long slender line which he quickly tied about his waste.  “I’ll try to swim for the shore.  As soon as I get there I’ll pull in a hawser then you can pull the ship to safety from here.  Will anyone come with me?”
        There were 2 volunteers.  Most responded with jeers.  “Man, you’re going to drown.  That water is mighty cold”
        The crew made a rush to grab the three but they dove over-board with the other end of the painter tied to a stanchion one deck down where the crew could not easily get at it.
         Spelling each other and with great effort the three reached the shore.  Some worried relative reported that she could just make out another person helping them haul in the line, expecting a stronger rope to follow.  It could have worked but the crew cut it, much to the satisfaction of the captain.
         A few people now realizing what was happening also dove into the river.  But by now the current was too strong.  They were swept over the falls with the ship.
         The three huddled together for warmth and spoke their grief and confusion.  “Why did all those people on the MV World not understand and why didn’t the ones who did understand act like it was the catastrophe it was.”
         On the other side of the river they heard a harsh hollow laugh.
         Their new friend spoke sternly:
“God shows His anger from heaven against all sinful wicked people who push the truth away from themselves” (Rm. 1:18)
        “But Lord, what about the people who worshipped you?”
        “Put a mark on the foreheads of all those who weep and sigh because of the sins they see around them” (Ez.9:4)  “Oh city (world) of murderers, doomed and damned-city or idols filthy and foul- you are guilty of both murder and idolatry.  Your day of destruction has come” (Ez. 22:3-4)  “And this is what the Lord says. If the innocent must suffer, how much more must you.  You will not go unpunished!” (Jer. 49:12)