Shipwrecked

Scuba diving and exploring shipwrecks off the coast of Bermuda is a popular tourist attraction. There are about 20 ships that wrecked on the island itself and nearly 300 wrecked ships in the area surrounding the island! The island of Bermuda is a common tourist destination, with tropical weather and beautiful coral reefs. It is these coral reefs that have been responsible for the wrecks of nearly 300 ships in years past. One ship wrecked and brought Bermuda’s first settlers to the island. Other sunken ships included luxury liners, military ships, and merchant freighters. More recently, a smuggling ship known as the Xing Da sank in 1997 there after a pirating career that went back to smuggling contraband weapons during the Vietnam War.

The apostle Paul also experienced a shipwreck on his journey to Rome. His ship wrecked as a result of a violent storm rather than coral; still, God’s watchful care brought Paul and the other passengers safely to the island of Malta. There he was able to pray, heal, and share the news of Jesus with the island’s inhabitants.

As you read the story, it is hard not to notice Paul’s persevering attitude. Rather than bemoaning his circumstances, he told the ship’s crew not to fear, commanded the officers not to kill the prisoners, and helped the passengers swim to shore. He gathered wood for a fire to warm the wet survivors, survived a snake’s bite, and went to heal and pray with the people of Malta. As sinful humans, facing difficult circumstances often leads us to complain. We feel we deserve better and wish to make ourselves feel better. But what a difference it makes when we choose to move forward with God’s work, even when the way is hard. God will bless those who press forward into the storm!

Key Bible Texts

And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. (Acts 28:1 KJV)