"This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith." --1Tim.1:18-19
This summer I watched two people suffer shipwreck of the soul. One suffered it some time past and quite frankly does not see the point of having God in his life anymore. The other, even as I write, is crushed beneath the blows of rancorous waves spintering the wooden bow of what was once faith to shreds and washing it away into an endless ocean of despair.
How does it happen? Not in a moment, or in a day, but over time somehow that which was once full of faith and hope did not endure.
Some would casually dismiss their plight, writing them off by saying, "They were never really saved." But that is a convenient catch-all explanation that callously ignores the very real suffering and abuse these people have run up against, in some cases in the name of Christ.
Moreover, it arrogantly disregards even the possibility that I, myself, could one suffer similar shipwreck.
Have you ever come close to suffering shipwreck with regard to your faith? If so, how did you end up there? More poignantly, how did you get out?
It is a topic worth exploring in our Christian walk -- but is all too often ignored.
I hope some of you readers will venture to share. I look forward to seeing your responses.
1 comment:
i am glad for this brave post. i will share-just give me time to have a proper sleep and i will come back soon:-)
and, i think you may have found the theme for your next book...?
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