CHAPLAIN’S PAGE – “That Sinking Feeling”
NINETY six years ago, on April 15 1912, a catastrophic event occurred which no-one at the time had thought possible, a tragedy that shook the civilised world into disbelief. The great ship Titanic, which sailed from Liverpool on 10th April 1912 on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic, was hailed as the last word in speed, safety and luxury. This magnificent vessel, crowded with wealthy and important people, was known as the unsinkable ship. But, for all that, the impossible happened.
At the beginning of this new century, yet another catastrophe is taking place, that only a few years ago would have seemed impossible. Our great nation is sinking with all hands. Sadly, it is the captain and crew who have deliberately scuttled that empire which brought hygiene, education, law and order, and the Gospel, to millions.
The designers of the Titanic guaranteed it to be unsinkable, and were irate when Cunard insisted that lifeboats were to be carried. So, the voyage began with 2027 passengers and crew, and too few lifeboats, everyone completely satisfied that they were on an unsinkable vessel, and without a care in the world.
So it is with our nation today, with an abundance of entertainment, a full stomach and wallet, and no realisation that it has already struck the iceberg.
Nothing is new in history; empires have come and gone,and when the cause is examined, it is surely always an excess of entertainment and depravity, the breakdown of law and order, high taxation and corrupt government.
The captain and crew of the Titanic were warned by wireless telegraph that there were icebergs in their area, but, needless to say, the warnings were ignored. Likewise, our nation has been given warnings of impending disaster over the years.
A hundred years ago, the Bishop of Liverpool, John Charles Ryle, D.D., warned the nation that the Established Church was under attack, and that the Counter-Reformation would gain ground. How right he was! Once the influence of the Church is watered down, the effects are far-reaching. The laws which had been on our statute books for generations, and were based upon Biblical law, have been gradually whittled away by generations of governments who have no spiritual understanding. The Church itself is led by men who no longer accept the total authority of Scripture.
The advent of “political correctness” has cut all the lifeboats adrift, so that there is no apparent way of escape. Bearing all this in mind, it would be so easy to lose heart, and even to go so far as to blame God for letting things get so bad. However, to do so, would be to show a lamentable lack of understanding of the plan and
purpose of Jehovah for His people, Israel.
Whilst it is true that mankind changes his ideas and standards of morality from generation to generation, we may take great comfort from the Lord’s promise, found
in Malachi 3:6:
“For I am the Lord. I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed”.
As we are forced to witness the destruction of our way of life, and the disintegration of our islands’ history, take heart, for the promises of God can never fail. In spite of what men say, our wonderful Saviour will never fail His people.
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come. Lord Jesus”. – (Revelation 22:20)
