Trusting Jesus to Pilot Our Lives

Just recently, when Joan and I were away on holidays at Pt Lonsdale we enjoyed watching the ships as they made their passage in and out of Port Phillip Bay. The treacherous waters at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay are among the most dangerous in the world. More than 700 vessels have met their end at the entrance and within the Bay. Since 1839 it has been the responsibility of the Port Philip sea pilots to steer ships safely through the labyrinth of rips, reefs and unpredictable tidal currents as they enter and leave the bay. The pilots are experienced ex-ship masters with extensive local knowledge of the channels in the bay and at the heads, depth of water, currents and dangers within and around the port for which they are licensed. A pilot is responsible for the safe conduct and navigation of the ship from the time he takes control from the ship’s master after boarding at sea, until the vessel is safely moored at the wharf or vice versa. There is a boarding station three to four kilometres out to sea, from the heads, where the pilot boat meets the incoming ship. There the pilot boards the vessel and then steers the ship through the passage of these treacherous waters to its prescribed destination, to the safe harbour. So the pilot needs to come on board, the one who understands and knows fully the pathway through the treacherous waters that they are to pass through. It would be to the ship and the crew’s own peril to ignore and not be obedient to the pilot’s knowing and thinking. When he comes on board he takes full command. The ship’s master and crew learn to trust in the pilot’s direction and submit themselves to his authority. Their safe passage through the treacherous waters depends upon their submission to his authority. As I contemplated this I learnt a very valuable lesson. Lord, if I don’t let You come on board the vessel of my life - my marriage, my family, my parenting, my work situation in life, whatever it is to do with my life - if I don’t let You come on board and pilot my life, then I am eventually going to end up shipwrecked in my faith at some point. (1 Tim 1:18-19) Sometimes you can think you are travelling alright , but you are not aware of what is just beneath the waters. The only way the waters of life can be navigated successfully is for each one to have an ear to hear what the chief pilot, Jesus, is saying and then being fully obedient to His every word.