Change Your Course

Several years ago I ran across the following article and ran it in our church bulletin. Since the real reason we suffer in this life very often involves our own pride and selfishness (at least mine does) I thought it would be a good idea to share these words of wisdom this week. I would like to give credit to the author, but I don't know who wrote it. If any of you do, let me know. Here is what he wrote:

From World War II comes the story of a naval ship on patrol in the Atlantic. The Captain noticed a strange light shining through the fog. It appeared to be headed straight toward his ship.

"Signal that ship to change course ten degrees to the West," he commanded. The reply came back, "Change your course ten degrees to the East."

Indignant, the Captain responded, "I am the Captain; change your course." The reply: "I am a seaman second class; change your course ten degrees."

This time the Captain's message took on the ring of combat: "This is a U.S. Destroyer; change your course now or suffer the consequences." The response was brief: "This is the lighthouse; change your course."

In a world which attempts to say the reverse, it is humbling to realize I am not the standard, the ultimate, the center around which all others revolve. This is the classic sin par excellence: pride. Its opposite (humility) is a challenge precisely because I see myself as the Captain; all other lights must give way to mine.

The Christian sees it differently. Because I am a servant, other lights take priority over mine. Because I am a disciple, the Teacher's light takes priority over all others.

"But I have my rights!" Wrong. Servants don't have rights! Disciples do not worry about rights. True servants think only of serving. True disciples think only of learning from the Master. Talk of "rights" is whistling in the dark when the lighthouse is dead ahead.

Okay, this is me again (djb). When I ran across this old article, I just had to put it in one of the Barnabas' Notes issues. This is exactly what we do, isn't it? We start thinking that things are a certain way (maybe it's that someone is out to get me, or nothing ever goes my way, or this just isn't fair) when in reality, we're headed straight for a lighthouse. I may even get angry with God for not protecting me when all along He had in mind that I endure a test to make me stronger. We forget that pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling (Proverbs 16:18).

It's hard to imagine myself telling God that He had better get His act together when it comes to my life, but it's hard to imagine that ship's Captain saying the same thing to a lighthouse. He would only do that ignorantly, but he did it just the same. I would only be so disrespectful of God ignorantly, but that's just what I am (disrespectful, whether ignorantly or not) when I resist His will or act like I'm in charge and not He.

So, this week's encouragement is "change your course." You'll find life a lot easier if you work with God and not against Him. It may not always feel easier, but what you think you suffer now for doing the right thing is far less than what you will suffer in the end, if you choose the easy way now. God wants you to be a slave to Him so you can be truly free because He loves you...and so do I. Have a great week.

Donnie Bates