9-19-2014

Aargh mateys,

        Jonah 1:3; “But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.”

    Today is International Talk like a Pirate Day.  It is a fun little experience.  You can go around and say “aargh” or “shiver me timbers” or “walk the plank” and sing “Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.”  It is really kind of interesting the fascination we have with pirates.  We seem to make them a fun or even funny group of people.  It works well in movies, books and on television but in real life none of us would sing “A Pirate’s Life for Me.”

    Most of the sailors on pirate ships were not there by choice.  They were either impressed into service (kidnapped) or they were on ships where a mutiny occurred and they were stuck.  They could no longer return to the regular navy and they couldn’t leave the pirate ship.  They were beaten, enslaved and had a short life span.  Being a pirate was not the life for me.

    In his haste to run, Jonah may have tried to sail with pirates.  Tarshish wasn’t the most law abiding place.  It was a place to run and hide from authorities.  So Jonah ran, he believed he could run from God and the draw of pirates as a quick fix was too great.  Until the storm hit and everyone panicked and tossed Jonah into the sea.  Sort of like walking the plank.  A pirate’s life indeed.

    There may have been times when you felt the desire to run from God.  You may even feel it now.  The problem really becomes difficult because who do we run away from God with?  The only runners are “pirates.”  Drugs, alcohol, abusive behavior, denial, anger all seem to help us but soon they will toss you into the sea into the abyss of total pain and abject terror.  You will know what it is to be alone.

    This is what it is to be a sinner.  We run from God; we run with pirates who throw us away when we become inconvenient.  That is why God’s love for us is so incredible.  We can be the worst of the worst; yet he loves us enough to save us.  Just like he saved Jonah from the depths of the abyss, he saves us.  Through Jesus we are rescued; we are saved from the “pirates” from the devil and the penalty of our sin.  We are safe in the loving arms of God.  We can rely on his grace.  We don’t have to run from him rather we should run to him.  He is our only true source of hope.  He is the only true companion on our journey; when others abandon us or toss us overboard, God holds us close, comforting us and offering us hope. 

    So next time you feel like running; don’t.  You cannot escape the pain of sin and God’s love will keep you from suffering.  God’s love can give you the peace that we so desperately seek in this world.  Don’t run, don’t trust the pirates; trust God’s grace to see you through.

Father, I often run from you when I should run to you.  Forgive me for my failures; keep me close to your heart.  Be with those who are running at this time.  Bring them the rescue that they need.  All this we ask in the precious name of Jesus our Savior, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret