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nd he
will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from
the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly. (Isaiah 5:26)
The
name, Titanic, conjures up magical memories of by-gone grandeur and almost
miraculous feats of Naval Science and Engineering. The RMS Titanic, the largest
ocean-going vessel to ever sail the high seas, was the embodiment of the
national pride of the British Empire and of the prestigious White Star Line.
The
Titanic was even given the privilege of flying the Blue Ensign, a blue flag
with Union Jack affixed in the upper left field - an honor and tribute afforded
vessels of special worth to the Commonwealth of Great Britain. This grand
vessel was touted by her Captain, EJ Smith, as being “unsinkable.” As
a matter of fact, when asked by a news reporter if the Titanic could be sunk,
the good Captain responded, “Sir,
God, Himself, could not sink the
Titanic.” These proved vain and
prideful words, for the Master of the Seas presided over the sinking of this
glorious idol of the British Empire only four days after these words were
spoken. Pride goeth before
destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:19)
On
that fateful night of 14 April 1912, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg on her
starboard bow. Within 2 hours and forty minutes, this vessel sank hard by the
bow and slipped beneath the icy cold waters of the North Atlantic bearing with
her the souls of more than 1500 persons as the band played, and the company
sang, “Nearer my God to Thee”
There were many whose lives, though flamboyant,
were unremarkable prior to the sinking; however, many of these same souls exhibited
rare courage and chivalry in the moments preceding their tragic ending. Many
gave up their own life jackets to women and children, some refused to board a
life raft so long as there were women and children who required accommodation,
and then there was the ship’s band
(accustomed to playing at fancy balls), at the moment of crisis, now selflessly
playing the funeral dirge for hundreds of perishing souls.
I have always been
fascinated by man’s utter disregard for God and
His creatures until the moment calamity strikes. Why not live each day as if it
were the sinking of our souls? Why not turn to the Master of the Seas and Land,
and of all the glittering galaxies of Heaven, while the time is abundant to the
purpose?
The Titanic carried
to her Ocean grave the souls of 1,522 men, women and children. She went to that
Ocean grave with her Blue Ensign neatly tucked away in one of her many
compartments. Shall we likewise perish with our ensign neatly folded and tucked
away in a bay compartment? or shall we fly our colours gladly as we muster for
the daily Battle of Life? Why not? 35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights
burning; 36 And ye yourselves like unto
men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when
he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. (Luke 12:35-36)
