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SUBJECT: At least they went back
AUTHOR: David Gates, his wife Becky, and two of their five children - Carlos, and Kristopher, work together in a medical aviation program in the jungles of Guyana, South America.
DATE:March 6, 1999
In his well-known book, "A Night to Remember," Walter Lord describes the sinking of the Titanic. As a Teenager, I read the book several times. More recently, I listened to it being read on tape. The narrative vividly documents the flippant conversation of many of the passengers which rapidly turns serious, then finally desperate as the ship nears its final plunge.
"It's gone!" A collective sigh was quietly breathed by many of the survivors as the giant black hulk slid below the water line. Of the over fifteen hundred that died that night, hundreds jumped overboard into frigid waters, desperately hoping to find a lifeboat or something to hang onto.
What happened after the Titanic disappeared impressed me even more than the inefficient way the lifeboats were at first handled. Still seared into my mind are the reactions of many of the survivors. While sitting in half-empty life boats, they listened to the weakening cries of the fellow passengers trying to stay afloat in the cold waters, yet refused to take any personal risk in attempting to pick up a few of them. Arguments in favor of self-preservation won out, and hundreds that could have been saved, slipped into eternity. "Safety, safety" was, and still is, the word of the day.
Not everyone, however, fit into this selfish category. One boat did go back. Though in the darkness, they futilely pursued many calls for help, they were able to pick up a few more. But as Walter Lord puts it, "At least they went back."
Lest we be too harsh on the Titanic survivors, we must recognize that very many decisions made today, even by God's people, are based on our perception of risk. Management of risk is one of the largest expenses many organizations have today, including our church. Why shouldn't we live our personal lives in the same way? We help a neighbor or friend, but only when convenient. We stop to help an elderly person, but only if it isn't in the dangerous section of town. We give to God, but only if it doesn't hurt. A call to mission is a call to risk. God's call to service and sacrifice is actually a direct order to risk, contrary to the world's standard of avoiding risk. In fact, the only way to preserve anything is to risk everything.
Jesus congratulated the widow for "giving all that she had." Don't let the criticisms of others stop you from following the widow's example. Place all your skills and resources in being a blessing to others. Give all that you have to share God's love with those who are dying without it. Are you shy? Do you have a handicap? Is your bank account too small? Not to worry. Give all that you have. Do people say your car, your airplane or helicopter is too small (or too dangerous) to be the ideal for mission work? Don't pay attention to the nay-sayers. Use all that you have. Do you have only five loaves and two fishes? Give all that you have. God will multiply the influence of that which you give. In spite of the opinions of the experts regarding small things, God is not limited by things that are too small. He actually prefers to use them "For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice..." Zech 4:10.
While browsing through my son's World History book, I noticed how little time across history was actually spent in peace. From one world empire to another, from one conflict to the next, our world appears to be constantly in turmoil. Peace is too elusive to be taken for granted. Though one generation might experience it, the next probably won't. If you live in a country with peace, move rapidly to take advantage of that opportunity.
"From time to time the forces of history converge, bringing people to a moment filled with the raw materials of greatness...It is happening to Adventism. And it is time to move quickly." wrote Lewis Walton in his book "Decision at the Jordan", pp. 91, 92.
Don't wait for the future, for the future is now, and time will soon be no more. The Titanic is getting ready to take her final plunge. Millions are already in the frigid waters crying for help. Resist the world's sophisticated arguments which keep you from taking risk. The reward is proportional to the risk. Man the lifeboats now, and cut loose. When rendering accounts to the Master, how gratifying it will be to hear the words, "At least you went back."
In His Service,
David Gates
You may send E-mail to David Gates at:
gates@andrews.edu or
GAMAS@solutions2000.net