Modern Day Pirates

This time it was personal – at least for the vacationing civilians who were pursued and fired upon by pirates at sea. The latest attack was on a 600-foot long American ship, the M/S Nautica, and took place in the dangerous waters between Yemen and Somalia. Fortunately, the quick-thinking captain increased his ship's speed leaving 4 the terrorist speedboats behind in his massive wake.

This year alone there have been nearly 100 attacks on vessels off the Somali coast. Of those, 40 have been hijacked and 13 remain in the hands of pirates. One of the captured ships, a Saudi supertanker, was filled with $100 millions of gallons worth of crude oil along with a crew of 250 who are still being held hostage. And it goes without saying that the world today is a dangerous place and getting more so with each passing day.

Despite the serious damage sometimes inflicted on unsuspecting and innocent people, the ability of evil-doers is limited to the physical realm – as painful as that can be. The more serious matter, by far is, is described by Peter in his first New Testament letter. In verse 8 of chapter 5 he warns, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” While Satan certainly prods and promotes those who would terrorize their fellow men, it is his legacy of spiritual harm that causes the worst type of damage – the kind that causing dire eternal consequences.

Jesus also revealed what kind of damage should be life’s top concern. "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!" (Luke 12:4-5)

The Lord spoke often about the horrors of a literal hell. But His purpose was to cause the fear of judgement to be transformed into a saving faith, forgiveness of sin, and a heavenly home. This state of heart is arrived at only by trusting fully in His sacrificial death on the crossand life-giving resurrection from the grave. (Romans 5:8-10, 6:5) And once that has occurred, believers can begin to rely upon God’s promises and His unique ability to deliver them from the powers of darkness and to cope with the problems of life - a blessed truth is most fully detailed in Psalm 91, where the Psalmist speaks of God’s marvelous secret place of security.

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust." Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers,and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side,and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look,and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place.” (Psalm 91:2-9)

Bill Breckenridge