Steady Sailing

 

Sail boats intrigue me.  I understand sailing downwind with the wind at your back.  I even understand sailing across the wind with your sail sideways, the big keel underwater keeping the sailboat from slipping sideways, and everyone on board hanging on the upper side.  The intriguing part of sailing is moving against the wind.  And, yes, it’s possible.  When a sailboat is pointing about 30° into the wind (left or right) the mainsail and jib sail catch just enough wind to make them curve. And on the outside of the sail, the curve creates lift (like an airplane wing) which pulls the sail, which pulls the sailboat forward against the wind.  Hey, the apostle Paul knew about sailing.  When visiting his churches, he had to sail across the Mediterranean Sea.  And as a curious man, Paul knew how to set the sails to move the ship.  And in the book of Ephesians, Paul used the illustration of sailing to encourage the Ephesian church to be steady.  Ephesians 4:14, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”  Good advice, Brother Paul.  Don’t be sucked in by clever speaking false teachers.  Read your Bible for yourself!  Don’t get your information from the internet or second-hand from someone else.  Go directly to the source: read your Bible and let the Holy Spirit teach you.  Steady sailing to you!