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There was a time in my life when I received frequent phone calls from supposed travel agents who were trying to persuade me to take a cruise. Now, I love the sea and I have enjoyed all of the time I have spent in ships on the ocean; so the idea of a cruise was quite appealing to me. But, I didn’t trust these agents and I never followed up on their offers; and, if you know something about salesmen, you probably understand why I was cautious. I think you would be, too. Read on.
So, let us suppose that I were a reliable travel agent and that I were offering you the opportunity to take the cruise of a lifetime—a long historic voyage—and the choice of two different newly-built ships. Please carefully consider your options:
First Choice: Ship A
Ship Builder: We really don’t know a whole lot about the qualifications of the builder of this ship—the builder’s technical qualifications or skills, previous ship-building experience or successes. But he seems to be a nice person.
Crew: As in the case of the builder, we do not know anything about the crew’s previous sailing experience or training—whether or not they have had any previous successful voyages, but, on the whole, they appear to be a cut above the average, as people go.
Captain: Well, we don’t know much about him either. He seems like a nice fellow, but we have no record of his having had any previous experience on any voyage.
Destination: Well, it appears that we are not told exactly where this ship will end its voyage; but we are assured that it won’t be at the bottom of the sea.
Second Choice: Ship B
Ship Builder: This ship has been built by a famous shipyard—a shipyard long known for its successes in producing great ships, and for incorporating the latest and best in engineering, materials, and technology.
Crew: The crew for this ship is well-trained and very experienced—even internationally acclaimed—the best the famous cruise line has to offer.
Captain: The captain on this ship is very experienced and has been given the privilege of being master of this ship because of the high regard in which he is held—both as a competent administrator and as a great seaman.
Destination: The destination is a great port city—one of the greatest and richest in the world.
Now, which ship will you probably choose for your voyage of adventure?
“Oh,” you say, “that looks fairly easy—an obvious choice.” Have you made your choice? If so, you may want to repeat it to yourself, just to make sure you remember it.
If you chose Ship B, you have a lot of company. Most people, when asked the foregoing questions, choose Ship B. They see it as a perfectly logical choice.
Ship B is the H.M.S. Titanic. You may have heard of that famous ship before. How well do you like that choice now?
The Titanic was a new ship—supposedly the finest ever made up to the day she sailed into history. She is famous for sinking on her maiden voyage and for taking over half of her passengers down with her.
“Oh,” you may exclaim, now glad that you were not actually on the ship you chose, “well, what is Ship A?”
Ship A is Noah’s Ark—an even more famous actual historical ship—the much-mocked Ark of Noah.
The Ark’s maiden voyage was conspicuously successful, despite the perceived ignorance and inexperience of the builder, captain, and crew.
Why Noah’s Ark Is the Better Choice.
There is one simple reason: God. The Ark and its voyage were all God’s idea. God ordered it, God designed it, God guaranteed it, and God preserved it.
The Titanic seemed to have everything going for it—but God; and God makes all of the difference.
In God’s Word, the Bible, we read the reason why: “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:25. No doubt people laughed at Noah while he built the Ark. After all, what did he know about building such an odd boat, and what possible use could it have? But Noah had his instructions from God, and he believed God and followed God’s instructions. And both God and Noah were vindicated when the flood actually came—just as it had been predicted. Read all about it in Genesis 6-8.
Today, a whole world of people still makes choices—trusting their own wisdom, ignoring God’s warnings of judgment, forgetting the lesson of Noah’s Ark, and unaware that God says:
“Seek ye the LORD while He may be found; call ye upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him, and to our God for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are My ways your ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:6-9.
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12
“All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent….’ For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe…. Because the foolish-ness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31