Imagine you’re on a cruise line

Some wonder in times like these if God is really in charge. Does he really have his guiding hand on the world? Things seem so crazy. Out of control. Even demonic.

Let’s imagine you’re taking a cruise. At the appointed time you board with hundreds of others, excited about the adventure that lays ahead. Meanwhile, in the captain’s headquarters the captain sets the instruments including the destination time of arrival. Satisfied with his calculations, he orders the launch.

At departure time the giant ship slips into the deep blue and heads out to sea. You can’t wait to rest and have a good time.

Before long the partying begins. You soon note that many aboard your ship are heavily drinking. Loud music blares. Raucous laughter and shouting ensue. Dancing, drunkenness, debauchery, and decadence begin to unfold. Inappropriate behavior increases. It’s going too far for you. As time passes the partying grows worse. There’s even some violence amongst passengers.

You wonder, Where is the captain? Is he aware of this? Who’s in charge of this ship? The captain’s security crew are doing their best to keep things under control but seem overwhelmed.

Yet if you could climb the stairs to enter the captain’s quarters you would encounter an entirely different scenario. The captain is grieved at the way so many passengers are acting, yet he remains serene. No matter what happens below, the ship glides steadily toward its destination. His hand is firmly on the controls. The estimated time of arrival is right on target. All is well.

God views our world the same way. He is grieved at the sin of so many, yet serene. His hand is on the controls. He knows precisely when He will send Jesus to rapture the church. And He knows exactly when the world will reach the final port of entry.

So keep your eyes on the Captain, not the unruly passengers. Our final destination draws ever closer. He is near, at the door. He’s got it. He’s got us!