“He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.” – Acts 27:43b-44
There were 276 people on board that ship and 275 of them were certain they were going to die! Then there was Paul who knew otherwise because the Lord had told them so. Though foolishness had led them into a terrible and potentially deadly storm, God preserved every one of the souls on board. But He did far more than that…
After safely swimming or floating ashore, every crew member, passenger, guard, and prisoner got to see Paul work miracles and teach about Jesus for several months before they could resume traveling. What an opportunity God provided! He not only rescued them from certain death but gave them unhurried time to consider His offer of new and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ!
We would certainly hope their recent brush with death by drowning gave them ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to receive the good news of Jesus Christ. If they did, they were truly rescued. If they didn’t, their fate was no better than if they’d drowned at sea. That can be hard to swallow, but it’s true.
Regardless of how we die, we’ll all die unless Jesus returns first. Those who die in Christ will enjoy an eternity in the glorious presence and love of God. Those who die apart from Christ face the horrors of eternal separation from God in a place of unending suffering called Hell. This fate can only be avoided by hearing about and believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as Lord. Who in your life needs to hear and believe this good news to be truly rescued before their own encounter with death?