Orig: 12/21/02
22But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed…. 25So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.
Acts 27:22 and 25
I laugh when people ask me about swimming. I usually respond, “Some people are swimmers and some people are sinkers. I am most definitely a sinker.” On my first trip to Maui, at age 39, I learned that I float in salt water (if I have a mask and snorkel), but put me in fresh water and watch me live out the Bob Segar song, “Like a Rock!” I simply do not float and have to work hard to keep my head above water. Treading water is more of a workout (way more) than leisurely floating.
I am sure glad a person can’t see you sweat in the water!
Courage is the same way. The propensity of courage is to sink, not swim. Bravery, like treading water for a big man is hard work. “Keep up your courage, men,” (25) in the midst of the currents of life that seek to pull it to the bottom of loneliness, fear, despair and ultimately death.
In this heroic passage from the book of Acts, Paul is speaking to men who have lost all hope and subsequently their courage.
When, or if, we realize that God stands before us, we will witness a remarkable change in us. I say, “if” because few people in life actually live each day with the conscious presence of Jesus. You see, our head understands God is with us (Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5) but our heart is often deaf to the whisper of Jesus in the midst of the screaming rapids of loneliness.
Spiritual memory begins in the heart, not the head.
Head memory leads to religion, but heart memory leads to righteousness. Yesterday we learned that even the great Apostle Paul had to be en-couraged by God (Acts 23:11). But once we experience the Presence in the midst of those storming nights of the soul, we never forget. Can you see Paul standing on the bow of the ship in the midst of a raging Mediterranean storm? Staring in the face of his own death, an angel of God stands before him (Acts 27:23). Unlike the disciples in Matthew 14:27 and Paul’s previous experience with persecution (Acts 23:11), Paul seems to almost expect God to save the day. Paul’s head knew that the presence of God was already with him but his heart had momentarily forgotten. Although afraid (Acts 27:23), Paul was ready to “keep up (his) courage.”
God gives a man courage to encourage and inspire other men (Acts 27:22 & 25). The coward cannot “keep up courage” in others. The coward sinks, taking others down with him. The courageous man turns to Christ during the storms of life and even in the midst of fear (Acts 27:23) he can walk in the courage and confidence of the promises of God.
Whose courage are you keeping up? Whose head is your encouragement keeping above water?
