Bob Cassell, Messenger
To be in the middle of a raging ocean in a gale, storm, or typhoon can be life threatening and is very precarious! To be inside a small ship during foul weather is to be in a raging and life-threatening hell.
At the beginning of my military career, I was assigned to a huge, smooth sailing, aircraft carrier that was a thousand feet long with a crew of about four thousand. Foul weather moved the ship around somewhat but not too drastically. Then all hell broke loose! I was transferred from this large aircraft carrier to a tiny 143-foot seagoing tug in Adak, Alaska, with a crew of only 38 seamen. I knew I was in trouble the first time this small seagoing tug left the harbor and set course. This small ship moved and rolled more in the harbor than the large carrier moved when at sea. I thought “how will I ever survive in this small ship when we are at sea, especially when it is raging.” I soon found out!
We tied up and put in tow three large fuel barges and steamed for Astoria, Oregon. Sounds easy? Not so! The course was set to sail through the Bearing Straits, which is one of the roughest, and most turbulent seas in the world.
This small round bottom tug could only steam at 13 slow knots. Here comes torment… we sailed directly into a strong and turbulent gale. The waves were rolling the ship from left to right, up and down, high to low, under one huge wave and over another. At the high point of a wave the ship would slide to the top of what appeared to be a high mountain, and at the lowest point into a sprawling and deep valley. Left and right, up and down; men were slammed against bulkheads, overheads, into ladders, (stairs) and on to hard decks.
At one point it appeared we were going to sink as the small ship took a 62-degree roll. The mast was almost striking the water which would have been immediate disaster. The helmsman attempting to keep the ship on course could only hold tightly to the helm as his feet could not touch the deck. Everyone thought we were going to sink. The Icey waters would bring a quick and certain death.
Most of the crew members were incapacitated with severe sea sickness and I was one of them. If you have never been seasick, it is one of the most horrendous sicknesses in the world. Where are you goanna’ go when you are inside a ship with airtight hatches in the middle of a stormy ocean? Nowhere!! At one point I was so miserably sick that I seriously thought about jumping overboard just to have a place that, at least, did not slam your body against a hard bulkhead. Several of the crew members were injured, bruised, and bloodied as the little ship was tossed about like a cork in a mad sea. Yes, we finally made it, but when we docked and walked on dry land, the land moved like we were at sea until our equilibrium returned. It is traumatizing to think about this raging piece of hell on a turbulent sea.
This indeed was the dark side, and believe me it was dark and tortious, but thank God the sea isn’t always raging. When it is calm you can scan the beautiful water for many miles. The edge of the horizon is approximately fifteen miles from the ship. A smooth sea is a sight to behold. It’s like riding on a mirror, and is amazingly beautiful and serene. As you hear the ship slicing through the water the sound is mystifying. On one occasion, I saw one of the most beautiful sites of my life. In this calm and glassy sea, I saw a beautiful rainbow at midnight that spanned many miles over the horizon and kissed the edge of the moon. It was one of the most beautiful sites I had ever seen…. I will never forget it.
I loved a smooth and beautiful ocean, but the raging sea was not our friend! I think I suffer from PTSS (Post traumatic sea sickness).
How is it possible to sail the ocean for thousands of miles and always reach the correct destination? It is possible because of the sextant and the North Star of Glory! The sextant is a critical navigation instrument for maintaining a fixed course in seagoing vessels. At the beginning of the journey a course and destination is established. During the course the quartermaster strives to keep the ship on course, but small variances in steering along with turbulence or angry waves take the ship off course. If no adjustments are made the ship will not reach the predetermined destination or will zig zag aimlessly in a vast and unpredictable ocean.
The sextant readings are obtained by pointing to the North Star. The ships bearing is adjusted as many times as necessary to maintain a steady course. The sextant and the North Star are never wrong and constantly define the proper course in spite of high winds, gales, or a turbulent sea. However, the ship can never traverse on its own because too many outside influences affect its forward thrust. The ship is forced to rely on the sextant, but the sextant certainly does not depend on the ship. The sextant, constantly pointing to the North Star, and serving as an instrument to keep the ship on course, is a pointed reminder to live from a God centered internal generator which is fixed on True North.
The storms and winds which are encountered during our course in this life can push our human vessels far away from the intended and best destination. The constantly moving rudder keeps the ship on course and represents our choices. Our lives often veer from the right to the left, and we lose our bearding, or we may sail straight and remain on a fixed and steady course.
To sail straight and steady through the turbulent winds of change and remain on course during the storms of pain and suffering, requires a fixation on the North Star. The North Star has never moved and may be trusted completely. Similar to a ship at sea we as humans vacillate, veer off course from time to time, and lose our bearing. Therefore, our attention must be fixed firmly on the North Star so that immediate course corrections may be made to ensure a steady and reliable heading.
We must make sure that where we go is where we planned to go and not in the direction of outside influences that are not a part of our original planning. Our North Star of excellence is always there and ready to accurately adjust our course headings. We are wise when we make necessary mid-course corrections. We are intelligent when we are aligned with our North Star … Why? Because, The Lord of The Ages is our North Star. Our sovereign God placed the North Star in the heavenly places so that we may navigate correctly and safely through all of life’s storms and end our course at the desired destination. The Lord God of Glory himself is our North Star for yesterday, today, and tomorrow. You will never lose your bearing nor veer off course when you follow his light, and steer his course to glory, and victory. He will lead you to the fair haven of rest and completion… follow him, follow him! This is wisdom, this is stability… this is life.
Eternal life resides in the eternal person of the victorious one, Jesus Christ the impeccable and merciful savior. He clearly states the very essence of salvation in John 6:47, listen to this saving message from his flowing and truthful lips. He that believes on me has everlasting life! Yes, it is that simple!
His majesty Satan would have you to scoff at these eternal words, but do not allow it… because regardless of his interferences you can, by your own volition, believe in and embrace by faith the person of Jesus Christ. He truly will save your eternal soul if you call on him. This is all I have ever done to appropriate his so great salvation, and I recommend him to you, wholly and completely. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31). Whosoever shall upon the name of the Lord Shall be saved (Romans 10:13).
