A Plain Piece of Wood

“…Some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.” Acts 27:44

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Have you known anyone whose life was shipwrecked? Of course we in full time ministry have. We deal with people all the time who are only ready to turn to God after everything has crashed and nothing in their lives is working anymore. I was reading this morning about Paul (Acts 27) and his shipwreck. After being in a tempest for two weeks they finally neared the island of Melita and ran the ship aground, but the ship broke up. All 276 passengers had to jump into the sea and grab hold of pieces of wood to float them to land and safety.

A couple of weeks ago Bob visited a man in the hospital. He had been in a terrible car accident. His body was broken as well as his life and spiritual condition. Bob presented to him the plan of salvation and the man reached out to Bob as one of the sailors reached out for a piece of wood. He realized that Bob was the means to show him the way of salvation. He accepted the Lord that day, and it changed his life. The man is healing in body and spirit and looking forward to the day he is able to come to church and tell everyone what happened to him, and what their prayers have meant to him.

A piece of wood floating in the water becomes a lifesaver. You are that piece of wood. Not everyone will reach out to you. If a person can keep swimming, she will wait until her strength is exhausted. But, sooner or later someone is going to reach out to you as her lifesaver. You have the awesome means to lead her to safety--to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

You never know how your witness may touch the life of another. There is a story behind each conversion you have had a part in, whether you are aware of it or not, but you have been the means of rescuing them from shipwreck. So don’t discount the importance of a plain piece of wood.