SHIPWRECKED WITH HOPE

Shipwrecked with Hope


On December 7, 1941, shortly before 08:00, Japanese aircraft from six fleet carriers struck the Pacific Fleet as it lay in port at Pearl Harbor, and—in the ensuing two attack waves—wrought devastation on the Battle Line and on air and military facilities defending Pearl Harbor. Onboard the USS Arizona, the ship's air raid alarm went off about 07:55, and the ship went to general quarters soon thereafter. Shortly after 08:00, a bomb dropped by a high-altitude Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bomber from the Japanese carrier, Kaga, hit the side of the main No. 4 turret and glanced off into the deck below, starting a small fire but causing minimal damage. At 08:06, a bomb from a Hiryu "Kate" hit between gun turrets No. 1 & 2, likely penetrating the armored deck near the ammunition magazine located in the forward section of the ship. The cataclysmic explosion that resulted destroyed the forward part of the ship. A widely accepted theory is that the black powder magazine used to power the aircraft catapults detonated first, igniting the smokeless powder magazine which was used for the ship's main armament. A 1944 United States Navy's Bureau of Ships report suggests that a hatch leading to the black powder magazine was left open, possibly with flammable materials stocked nearby. The Naval History & Heritage Command explained that black powder might have been stockpiled outside of the armored magazine. However, it seems unlikely that a definitive answer to this question might be found. The blast that destroyed the Arizona and sank her to her berth alongside Ford Island, took 1,177 lives of the 1,400 crewmen on board at the time, over half the casualties lost during the attack. (Report from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
In Acts 27, we find the story of another shipwreck which could have ended very badly, but instead ended with everyone safely on land. Paul was a prisoner at the time. Against the advice of Paul, the Roman centurion in charge decided to sail to Phoenix. On their way they were confronted by a very big hurricane-type storm. The storm tossed the boat around so badly that they had to take ropes and wrap the boat to hold it together. Soon into the storm, the crew of the boat had to throw all the cargo overboard. When all looked bleak, Paul let them know that the “God whose I am and whom I serve” would not let anything happen to them. The Romans, not being persuaded yet, even went so far as to plan on killing all the prisoners so that they would not escape. But by God’s providence, the centurion wanting to spare Paul’s life, let everyone on the ship swim safely to the shore of the island of Malta.
So what do we learn from Paul’s trip? We learn that we have the answer to the storms of life. That answer is Jesus. We ought to be the people that the world looks to for help in their time of need. Are you being a Paul in someone’s life? If so, share with them the truth that God is in control and that all things end on a safe shore for those who trust God. I am not saying that we who are God’s children will never face storms. What I am saying is that even in the storm we can have a peace that passes all understanding.
Look around and see all the people who are in a storm and unable swim. Toss them the life rope of Jesus and pull them into His safety!

Praising Jesus for saving me from the storms,

Aaron Hodges