Acts 27:25
Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
One night we were eating with some friends after church. Our children are ordering up the food with huge eyes of hunger. Then the time came...fooooood! It was suddenly on! While my friends son was opening his sauce packet to put on his taco, he read the label aloud. He said, "Things Just Got Real". We all busted out laughing. He was on a mission to fill that void in the belly and when the food was placed in front of him there was nothing else to do but ask God to bless it and take it in. Things got real for him, fast.
Take the time this morning to read the whole chapter of Acts 27. You will read about a ship setting sail for Italy. On this ship were prisoners, including the Apostle Paul. Paul warned the men that there would be much loss of the ship and bodily harm, but the centurion soldier listened to the master of the ship more than Paul.
They sailed slowly many days, but then the Bible says a Euroclydon (an eastern wind cyclone) came and threatened the men and the ship. I can hear the captain as he says, "Men, things just got real"! Can you imagine the wind and waves crashing against the boat so fiercely that the ship is falling apart? The idea of being out there during this storm was enough, but the fact that one of the prisoners on the boat tried to tell you not to sail...well that had to be the icing on the cake.
But read what happens. Paul says, "Sirs, Be of good cheer". What if Paul's words would have stopped there? Not only would that sound ridiculous, but it would also bring anger. When we are in a storm, or things just got real for us, it's hard to be cheerful. It's difficult not to let our emotions take control. But his words didn't stop there. He said, "Sirs, be of good cheer: FOR I BELIEVE GOD". Two hundred and seventy-six men were saved from death because of the words of God. Don't miss it! Paul's words saved no one. But Paul's belief in the words of God brought comfort, cheer and rest when things got real.
When things get real in your life, where do you find peace, joy, cheer, comfort and rest? You don't find them in the storm or the whirlwind. You find them in the words of God. I don't know about you...but I believe God. Things can't get more real than Him!
