by Ted Brooks
I have often wondered what the first sailor thought
when he realized that he had sailed or rowed beyond the horizon and lost sight
of land (and whether he ever did it again after that). But sooner or later, men
developed sufficient abilities and knowledge of the sea and the associated
coastlines to be able to venture far from land with the expectation of safely
returning. Maps and charts were drawn, and tools were devised which enabled
mariners to determine with some degree of reliability where they were based on
the sun, moon, and stars. Prominent landmarks were charted as waypoints and
beacons to fix their position along the way. Soon men learned to line up
landmarks to determine safe lines of approach and departure to and from a
harbor. Fires and flags were eventually employed as navigation aids, and
polished reflectors were developed to increase visibility from a distance.
This brings to my mind Christ’s words in Matthew
5:14-15 “a city
that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it
under a bushel, but on a candlestick and it giveth light to all.”
Using sounding lines, they were able to determine
safe approaches to harbors and the shallow obstructed waters to avoid. As
information was collected it was incorporated into charts, which in primitive
form were not always reliable and constantly having to be revised. New charts
were carefully compared for similarity and differences, which had to be
resolved. Failure to keep properly updated charts invited disaster. This
process of constant comparison and resolution also characterizes the church,
and Luke addressed the Bereans’ careful study and harmonizing of the scriptures,
when he wrote “These
were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with
all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things
were so.”
(Acts 17:11)
Did I mention pirates earlier? Sometimes pirates
did not need to attack ships at sea. They simply employed deceptive lighting to
lure ships onto the rocks and shoals so they could scavenge the wreckage. Particularly in times of war or political
unrest or when law enforcement or military protection was unavailable, ships’
masters had to be alert to this deception. Some of us may remember the coastal
blackout strategy employed during the World War II to confound enemy warships
prowling near our shores.
In our Christian walk, we must avoid falling prey
to false teachers and false religions who in Peter’s words “privily shall bring in damnable
heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves
swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by whom the way
of truth shall be evil spoken of.” (2 Pet. 2:1-2).
In the times of the Roman Empire, ships either
relied on sail power to carry them where they went, or oars to propel them. Large
ships known as galleys or triremes were designed to be rowed by crews of men pulling
scores of large oars to drive them through the water. Whichever method was used
ships were always beset by wind, waves, and tides. It took knowledge, training,
constant effort, and courage to face the unknown and to overcome hazards and
obstacles along the way to safely make port. It took the ability to know where
you were at all times and know where you were going. It took skill and courage to
ride out the fierce storms, which sprang up suddenly or to avoid them when
possible and then determine how far off course you had been carried. It is not difficult to see this example in
the metaphor used by Paul to the Ephesians in Chapter four when he entreated “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;”
To be lost at sea meant loosing valuable time, straying
into hostile waters, or running low on provisions. Worse, yet, it could mean
loss of ship and crew. It took knowledge
of landmarks and inshore regions to determine if you were approaching the mouth
of the channel or a blind inlet where you could end up aground. There were no
GPS, no radar, and no radio positioning; Just faith, courage, a seaman’s eye,
careful training, preparation and teamwork…lots and lots of teamwork.
