The Story of the Titanic
Everyone knows the tragic story of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. The great ship steamed across the icy north Atlantic in 1912. On the night of April 15, the lookout sighted an iceberg dead ahead.
The Titanic’s captain commanded to turn the ship hard to the port side—he intended to avoid hitting the iceberg altogether. This was a logical command. It also had a very unfortunate result.
As the stern of the Titanic came around, it hit the iceberg broadside at full speed. The collision collapsed the starboard side. Five of her sixteen watertight compartments flooded almost immediately. Only four could flood if the ship hoped to stay afloat.
Of the 2,240 passengers and crew aboard 1,500 perished. Photographs of the wreckage confirm eyewitness accounts that the ship broke nearly in half upon impact, sinking within minutes.
Avoiding Collisions
Nautical engineers believe that if the captain had commanded to full reverse engines, the Titanic would have slowed the impact significantly. The impact would have been with the strongest part of the ship, the bow, rather than the weaker side of the ship.
It is doubtful that she would have sunk at all. Even so, there would have been ample time for most of the passengers and crew to have been rescued.
Human nature seeks to avoid pain at all costs. When we find a metaphorical iceberg ahead, we want to avoid it. These icebergs can be job loss, illness, family strife or a financial setback.
The world would have us believe that life is one long uninterrupted pleasure cruise. Our flesh wants desperately to be happy and secure. The Devil insists that if God were good these things would never happen, at least not to us.
Approaching Icebergs
So how should we think about and approach icebergs? The Bible paints a very different view.
- James tells us to “count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations, knowing this that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (James 1:2-3)
- David said “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I have kept Thy Word. It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn your statutes.” (Psalm 119:67, 71)
- Peter tells us “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings that when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (I Peter 4:12-13)
- Peter also speaks of manifold grace for manifold trials. (I Peter 1:6, 4:10)
- Paul assures us that nothing can separate a believer from the love of God, but that in any and all sufferings we are more than conquerors through Him. Paul also assures us that all things work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28-39, emphasis added.)
- Job, who arguably suffered as much as any person in recorded history, said going into his trials “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him and maintain my ways before Him.” (Job 13:15)
- And coming out of the trials said “I have always heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye has seen You.” (Job 42:5) Job meant he had a closer, more intimate relationship with God as a result of his sufferings than he would have ever had otherwise.
Facing Icebergs
So how should we face an iceberg? No one in their right mind looks for trouble, pain or suffering. But when God sovereignly allows difficulties to enter our lives, we have a couple of choices.
We can try to escape and avoid them at all costs by turning to the endless options offered by the world and the Devil, which invariably allows the impact to come at the weakest point of our lives, being our own resources and abilities.
Or we can choose to face them with the strongest part of our lives which is our faith in God Himself, allowing the impact to come against the Truth of His Word and in the power of His Holy Spirit. One way leads to tragedy and loss, the other to victory and blessing.