BOARDS, PLANKS AND OTHER DEVICES
The idea of obedience is lightly regarded in the hearts of some Christians. The idea of an all-graceful God who will overlook all sins without mans repentance appeals to those who desire a religion devoid of obedience. The concern, they aver, is that if you speak about man doing anything to obtain his own salvation that this negates the great grace of Almighty God. They willingly choose to ignore the words of the apostles on the day of Pentecost when the audience was told to "save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40).
Let us consider for a moment the case in Acts 27, wherein, Paul and others were shipwrecked. After days of no sunlight or stars, hope was all but gone. Paul reminded them that they should not have taken this part of the journey at this time (Acts 27:21). Nonetheless an angel of the Lord told Paul that God had given him all those who sailed with him (verses 23 and 24). God was going to save them but not the ship or the cargo. Human life is far more valuable than any merchandise that a ship could haul. God in His mercy and grace granted that no person would lose their life.
The ship came into shallow water. Some men on the ship began to let down smaller boats to make their escape to land (verse 30). Paul tells the Roman guards that if these men continue to try and escape that they and the others cannot be saved (verse 31). Whereupon the soldiers cut the ropes to prevent these men from getting into the smaller boats. Did not God say that he would save all the people who sailed with Paul? Why then this action on the part of Paul? Salvation that comes from God must be carried out exactly as God said, otherwise salvation does not occur.
Continuing on the journey the ship was run aground where two seas came together. The end result was that the back of the ship broke away because of the waves (verse 41). The soldiers, knowing Roman law, planned to kill all the prisoners. However, the Centurion in charge kept them from their purpose. God was going to save all those who were with Paul. Now what were they to do? The ship is broken in half death is very certain. Those who could swim jumped from the ship and made their way to land (verse 43). What if you were one who could not swim? The chapter closes by saying that those who could not swim got on boards and pieces of the ship that were broken up.
God promised to save those who had sailed with Paul. Look back at those moments in a raging sea. Men are swimming while others are floating on boards, planks and parts of the ship. If God was going to save those with Paul then what are they doing, swimming and floating? They were saving themselves. Does this action on their part negate the promise of God or the grace of God? Some tried to leave earlier and they were stopped. Others wanted to kill the prisoners and they were stopped. Now men are in the waters swimming and floating. Obedience requires action on the part of man otherwise it is not obedience (Isaiah 1:18,19).
Salvation was on the land. How did one get to the land? Either by swimming or floating on boards and planks. Such efforts do not speak of the greatness of man but rather the greatness and mercy of God. Those on the day of Pentecost were told to save themselves. The very next verse declares that on that day about three thousand were baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38; 41). When they were baptized in water it was by submitting themselves to the authority of Jesus the Christ. When one obeys Christ, the glory then is to God and not to man (Ephesians 3:21). Was this issue back in Acts 27 the ability of a man to swim? Was it the ability of a man to get on a board and paddle toward the land? God saved them all just like the angel had said. Their obedience to the words of Paul preserved every man on board that vessel.
We understand this principle in all of life. You do whatever it takes to save yourself. In spiritual matters one must obey Christ in order to save themselves. This in no way negates the grace of God but rather demonstrates that grace because a way of salvation has been provided. Swim my friend or float, just get to dry ground (Acts 4:12).