Skip to main content

Leaving Fair Havens

Acts 27: 8 We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea 9 Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Fast.So Paul warned them, 10“Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” 11 But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there.(NIV)

The place where God warned them was called Fair Havens. God would have them spend the winter in Fair Havens. It was not God’s intention that they should lose everything in life, or suffer loss. Paul was the representative of God. The centurion represented the Government/the military. The Captain represented the economic/business side of the country. Paul represented the Divine, God. Now if the three had worked togetherthis would have been a successful trip. But no, the government and the business leader thought they didn’t need God’s guidance. Now the business owner lost everything save his life. The military/government was at the mercy of the sea and almost lost all of its prisoners. When it came right down to the bare knuckles only the representative of God was left standing with the answers.

When people refuse to follow God’s leading, God’s Word, God’s commandments, they leave the place called Fair Havens and head into trouble. I think that's where we are in this countr. This is where many people are in their personal lives. People have chosen to ignore God's directions as set out in God's word, the Bible.

Many people, governments, military leaders think they know better than God. They look at the circumstances and say as it were, God doesn’t understand. This place is not a suitable place for me to stay. However they don’t hear the voice of God. God did not say that they were going to stay at Fair Havens forever. God just tells them to spend the winter there. Since God controls everything and God can see down the road God is warning them to save them. God is a loving God and like a good Father He only wants the best for us. If God has called you to a Fair Havens to winter in, don't worry how it looks. Remember you are only there for a season and for safety.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Elisha, The Provision is in the Obedience

Sometimes I've felt that I've only had very little to give so why give it at all. This morning the thought came to me "All you you have is all you need to give." This thought came as I was reading the following passage in II Kings 4: 42 A man came from Baal Salishah, bringing the man of God twenty loaves of barley bread baked from the first ripe grain. "Give it to the people to eat, "Elisha said. 43 " How can I set this before a hundred men?" his servant asked. But Elisha answered, "Give it to the people to eat," For this is what the Lord says:" They will eat and have some left over" 44Then he set it before them and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord. This man only had twenty loaves to give to the prophet. The principle at work is: All that we have is all that we need to give. When we obey, God gives the increase. There are many examples in the Bible of this principle in action: Like the widow at ...

Red Soles

Christian Louboutin designs women’s shoes that are recognized from afar by their red soles. When one sees the red bottoms one knows immediately that the shoes are outrageously expensive and exquisitely designed. These artfully designed stiletto confections are out of the price range of most average consumers. They are basically set apart for the very wealthy. One expects to see these distinctive shoes on the Parisian fashion runways. Seeing a woman sitting in a hotel lobby with the red bottom of her shoe showing causes one to wonder who is she, because not just anyone wear these shoes. Thinking about the red bottom Louboutin shoes made me think of another person attired in red that made people ask the question of who he was. His feet were also distinctively red. His clothes were dipped in red too. People wanted to know who he was and why were his clothes red. His answer may be shocking to some, especially in this day and age when God is generally portrayed as being this benign and ...

Songs in the Night

This week marks eight years since the sudden and unexpected passing of my late husband Winston. That was a strange land for me. The land of loss and death. At first I needed to hear others sing because the song in my heart was frozen with grief and I was traumatized. I’d sing God’s song later with help from others. There were tapes I listened to that reminded me of the Lord’s song. It was the voice on the radio or the television that told me God would bring me out of these trials. It was the voice of my mother telling me and reminding me of God’s faithfulness to me in the past. How could I sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? In the next phase on my journey through grief after the sudden death of my husband I tried to sing along with those who were on the journey with me At first I’d only get a few words out before the tears started to flow. I kept trying day after day to sing along. I was reminded of God’s word. I was strengthened by constantly hearing the words of faith and ...