2/16/2017
Genesis 7:13-16, Matthew 25:1-13, Matthew 22:1-14, Luke 14:15-24, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.
The Ship
A ship is ready to sail, it is time to board the ship, hurry up, hurry, hurry soon the anchor will be raised, the sails will be unfurled and with the steady wind the ship will soon be on its way. It is no time to dillydally, say your last goodbyes, blow your last kisses, give the last hug; it is time to sail away. If you ignore the captain’s whistle and the ships blowing horn you will be left behind. All aboard, anchors aweigh, unfurl the sails it is time to sail away! Come aboard, you can wave goodbye to your loved ones from the ship’s deck, blow your final kisses and take a final look at those left behind on the shore. They were not prepared to board, they did not pay the price, they did not buy the ticket to board the ship. They therefore can only appreciate the ship from the safety of the shore. Shout instructions to them one more time maybe this time they will listen but this ship is sailing away without them on board. Everyone had to secure their own ticket on time and the sluggards were left behind because they were not ready. They got too busy with other things; they forgot the most important thing, to prepare for the journey of a lifetime. Now all they do is stand forlorn on the beach, sad, wishing they had reserved a place for themselves on the ship, wishing they had bought their tickets earlier. This is not an ordinary ship you cannot secure a ticket to board at the door. All ticket sales were done earlier and on the day of departure not even one ticket was available for the sluggards. These tickets cannot be passed on to someone else, they cannot be borrowed or reused, they cannot be saved for later or redeemed for cash. There is no one on shore trying to scalp tickets. They are originals and cannot be copied. They each contain the name of their rightful owners. A father cannot give up his ticket for his child or his wife, siblings cannot share them, friends cannot share them either. They are each unique to the person whose name they bear. You cannot sneak onto this ship, there will be no stowaways. The ship is heavily guarded no one without a ticket will be allowed on board. No one can break the ships security protocol. You will not even get past the check in line without being spotted. There is only one way of getting on this ship and that is with the right original ticket. Everyone received an invitation earlier many months before to purchase the tickets. They purchased the tickets by pledging and remaining faithful to the ship’s captain. Those who did not RSVP, who ignored the invitation are now stranded on the shore. They look broken as they realize that it is their rebellion that caused them to miss the ship. Though they weep and beg the captain is adamant, no ticket, no boarding the ship! You cannot bribe your way onto this ship, your money can buy you many things on this earth but not the ticket to board this ship. Money will not do, the currency needed to board this ship was a total surrender to the desires of the captain and repentance from sin. Now you are left behind to face an uncertain future. I will remember those who repent now and obey my voice henceforth but unfortunately you have missed the ship, although you have now repented it is too late for you to board the ship it has sailed away quickly and disappeared into the horizon. As for those who made it on the ship, come let us celebrate together. Afterwards there is much you must learn from me, the captain of the ship, Jesus. Grab the ropes and follow my instructions as I instruct you on how to manipulate the sails in order to catch the best wind and sail away. Yes you will have a moment of rest as we all sail together but after that there is still much you must learn for your assignment is incomplete and you must return to bring in the final harvest.
Amen.
