Acts 27:27

Acts 27:27 says, But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country, After fourteen days of being driven up and down in the Adria, about midnight a shipman deemed they drew near some body of land.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. Then, as they sounded the water, it got more and more shallow. Verse twenty-nine continues, Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. They then cast anchors, waiting for the day.  They still couldn't see land. Sometimes, when we find ourselves adrift in life, we need to cast anchor and wait for the light.  As Christians, Christ is both our Anchor and our Light, so we must just wait for His direction.  Verse thirty states, And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,  Even after Paul assured them that God had told him no life would be lost, they still looked to their own understanding.  They were going to abandon the ship and save themselves, with no concern for the others on board. They were going to sneak away while pretending to check the anchors.  We should not be surprised when the people of the world look only for what seems best for them, with no concern for others.  Until people accept the fact that Christ is the only way to salvation, they will try everything possible to save themselves, no matter how many people they hurt. Verse thirty-one adds, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.  Paul told the centurions that unless the seamen remained aboard, they would be lost.  Verse thirty-two continues, Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.  So, the Centurian had the lines to the boat cut.  We must cut all other ways to life except the one God has provided or all will be lost.  They had not listened to Paul when he advised them not to sail, but at least the Centurian was listening now. Hopefully, we won't have to be tossed about for fourteen days before listening to God, but too often we refuse to give up our own plans, even when we know they are not God's plans.