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Survive

by Alfonso Abels  
3/18/2013 / Christian Living

The fascinating short story of a shipwreck survivor grants very much food for thought.

Whilst trapped on an uninhabited island, he decided to build a hut as shelter, made a bed and, with all his belongings, placed it inside. The hut served a dual purpose by means of providing accommodation and storage. The survivor daily prayed and waited for his rescue.

One day, after scanning the horizons, he returned to his hut, only to find it alight. He was very upset as everything that was in it, was burning. Can you imagine having all your possessions and hard work gone in seconds? Can you imagine what went on in the survivor`s mind?

He probably thought: "Just a matter of time before I permanently close my eyes. " Yes, beloveds, he had all the time in the world to allow his thoughts flow out of his mind.

Well, his thoughts could have been: "Maybe the world had already forgotten about me.""His family might have thought that I died."" Maybe my will was already read and my assets divided as per my wishes."" Maybe my wife remarried, thinking that I would never return to society."

The survivor might also have thought he had reached his final resting place. Who knows except God, the determiner of our destiny? What he did not realise, God reacted to his prayers by using a passing ship to pick him up.

The captain later explained that they saw the smoke sign and decided to investigate. The survivor probably thought. "What smoke sign? I did not set up a smoke sign?" The best, in this case, was to remain quiet and praise God. Yes, beloved, God never leave nor forsake us. He is always there in our hour of need.

The shipwrecked man fell to his knees, thanked and praised God. What had seemed to be a disaster, God had, in fact, changed to a successful rescue mission. The crew might had other plans, e.g. to sail a day earlier or a day later or even in a different direction. Anything could have happen which would have made the rescue impossible, but God`s timing was perfect.

Valuable lessons from the story is being patient and keeping the faith. These aspects need to be part of our lives as Christians. Patience and faith, were the keys to the shipwrecked man`s survival. Had he any other choice? How quick can we lose faith and become illusion? How quick can we lose patience? Yes, Beloveds, this man waited long for his rescue, but used these keys effectively.

Was being shipwrecked part of God`s plan? Yes, it was. The survivor was perhaps a high flyer in his country or home town. No time for God or His things. He had to bring the survivor to a standstill. This was perhaps the only way God could converse with him.

Beloveds, God cannot speak to us as He wishes if we are continuously busy. He eventually thus needs to create an environment for that purpose. Does it sound familiar?

The fact that he regular prayed creates the impression that he was dependent on God for survival. Maybe he was a believer in Christ. The survivor`s daily program was: scan the horizon, if nothing was seen, go back and repeat the process the next day.

The story, however, does not tell how long this process continued. He persisted, keeping the faith and hoped for the best. I am pretty sure that God forgave him for forming his own opinions.

This story indeed gives us, as already stated, something to think about. Remember, what forms the centre of our thoughts leads to what actions we are going to take at some stage in our lives.

I still remember the many times I found myself in the same situation. These incidents often happened on my many missionary journeys. Home seemed far away, but the Lord was and is good. When he sends you to a place, be assured, you will go and come back alive and without injuries. You will even have enough to eat and a place to sleep. He will thus protect you.

After studying the facts so far, one comes to a point of asking:"Will you allow the Holy Spirit to play a role in your life? Bear in mind that the Holy Spirit reacts only when a person realizes that he or she is lost and need to get back to the Lord. Jesus is then at all costs exalted by the Holy Spirit.

We are given an assurance that Jesus, who alone was crucified for us, took our sins upon Him. Sometimes we doubt this, but let we be assured that this happening occurred without any misleading conception.

Beloveds, the moment of greatness arrived in a manner unexpected. He was caught off guard as his picture and God`s picture differed greatly. He had his own perception of how things would develop. However, God`s way is not man`s way. Do we not do the same? How often do our pictures differ from God`s pictures?

Many people live on their own uninhabited islands. They only see themselves on it. Rescue vessels, e.g. radio and television broadcasts, reading materials, etc. are often used in this regard.

Yes, beloveds, it is all there. The only problem is us. Do we want to accept the rescue offered or are we still looking over the horizon. Remember, the shipwrecked man made the mistake of forming his own opinions on the issue of the fire. He saw the tragedy, God saw the rescue.

Let us, whilst not doing the same mistake, reach out to our rescuer, the Lord Jesus Christ. Time played a major role in this story.Yes, let us not be preconceived. We quickly agree to abstain from such actions, but what do we do? We cry out loud at least one of the following phrases: What? Me? Never! I don`t have time for this. I can`t see myself in that position. Does it sound familiar?

Well, beloveds, these are the words heard when one engages in discussions about Jesus Christ. People, when asked if they will in any way consider accepting Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, usually react in this way.

Whilst working on this article, the news broke that a bus had crashed in the Boland area near Worcester. The bus was on its way from Secunda, near Johannesburg, to Cape Town. 24 People, of whom two were children and the driver, had died.

Bus accidents are now really becoming problems in South Africa. Lives are unnecessary lost. How quick can things change? The one moment, the happy group was still on its way to their destination, the next moment, lives were lost and survivors` lives dramatically changed.

Where does it leave us? What, beloveds, comparisons can be drawn between the bus and the sole survivor on the island? Firstly, both were single elements at the time. The only bus, on that piece of road, passengers` probably prayed to God for prevent the accident.

Secondly, prayer and faith again played vital roles.Unfortunately not everyone was saved in the accident. Why did God allow the accident? Strange as it may seem, the accident reflected His glory. God works in mysterious ways.

We do not know His plans, but we do know that He is a just God. The survivors would live to tell the tale with their scars bearing proof of it. Maybe they will save millions of people from the bondage of sin. The dead, yes, God has plans with them too.

Coming back to the story of the shipwreck, the survivor had to watch the horizon for quite a lengthy time for any sign of a ship. The moment when his rescue arrived, he was not on his post. This teaches us to not let our guard fall.

We are not perfect people, but we still need to strive to perfection. Therefore we need to confide in God. We have to trust Him. We have to use all available time to strengthen our relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Although, he was rescued, adapting back to society would take some time. Nevertheless, their fear of the unknown is the main reason for the timely adaption.

Psychological researches prove that people are not willing to change. They are not even prepared to engage at a gradual pace, but remain quite comfortable in their comfort zones. The survivor had to twice adapt to the given circumstances.

Taking everything into consideration, we are compelled to take a look at life in general. Life, beloveds, has many hills that have to be climb. These hills, the one hill being higher than the other, are often even seen as mountains.

Sadly, many people often believe that a lifestyle of hardship has been specifically created and granted for them. Many times people see themselves as the only fighter in their battle for survival, either forgetting or ignoring God`s willingness to rend assistance.

Gracefully, I am glad to declare, as always, that the Bible testifies that man will always have a place in God`s Kingdom. He won`t allow His creation to suffer unnecessary and get lost. Anyone, who means serious business with Him, is ensured of this place. He rewards you, the child of God, in this manner for your perseverance.

Bear in mind, God`s children do not have to despair. Because believers in Christ are automatically carriers of the gospel message, He has a commitment to love, protect and heal us.

The two events in this article have significant meanings. The Bible declares that we will not understand everything now, but one day everything will come to pass. Therefore beloveds, we feel the hurt with the families of those deceased or hurt in the recent accident.

Nevertheless, once again, we learn that time is life is short. It is thus of utmost importance that we consider the answer to the following: ".You do know where you are coming from, but what is the final destination? In fact, do you know the road to that destination?

Very often people ask questions such as "Where do I start? What must I do? How can I be a successful follower of Christ? What must be done to get into heaven?" I sincerely hope that this article will be able to satisfy your need and assist you in finding the answers to your many questions.

I do hope, at this moment, that you are already a child of God. If not, I suggest that, upon reading this article, you will seriously think about accepting Christ as your personal Saviour. Nevertheless, let us continue our discussion.

Want a job without applying for it? No, beloved, it is not a gimmick. Christians find themselves engaged in full-time jobs as followers of Christ. We may not receive our salaries on earth, but what makes up for the arrears, is a place in the golden city of the New Jerusalem. Hallelujah!

We, living in a non-Christian World, are constantly affected by the way we live, from day to day, at home, or at work, or even at play. Just think about the environment in which you live. Do you see any need?

If so, why not start earning your place in the Kingdom of God. Assist those in need in wherever and in whatever way you can. His eyes is on the sparrow and he watches you.

Following Christ demands constant attention, diligent effort and mental and spiritual energy. We have to keep working on it. (Philippians 2:12, 13). However, it is gainful work as it yields important results. This kind of consistent, daily Christian living exerts a great influence, leaving a really important permanent impact, on those around us

We, being Christians, have to live in such a manner that it will consistently display God's work and power in our lives. Good impressions on those around us will lead to them wanting to know and follow Christ. Does this sound familiar?

The basis for successful following of Christ can be found in 1 Corinthians 13. Allow me to use my personal life, including my marriage, as example in this process.

We got married on 7 March 1992 and based our marriage principles on Faith, Hope and Love. 1 Cor 13. Our recent 21st wedding anniversary was indeed a milestone we reached. The marriage stood the stormy weathers and the test of time. Therefore the success of our marriage could thus not have been possible without our Lord.

Years later, we can announce that it was all worthwhile in accepting Christ into our lives. The song declares: "It wasn`t easy, but it was worth it."Over the years, we developed an intense relationship with our Father. I was granted opportunities to minister the Word of God in various places. This led to unforgettable occasions. I also ministered in Namibia.

Where does my marriage fit into the bigger picture? Beloveds let me make it clear that our marriage was never smooth sailing. In fact, it was a curvy road, but God, being with us all the way, smooth it. As said, we also had our hiccups. At one time, about four years ago, we experienced a short separation of about four months.

Yes, some of you might say, that`s nothing. To us, it was quite a traumatic time. She was my first steady girlfriend and vice versa. We were more than just marriage partners, we were close friends.The fact that we had the Lord in our lives influenced our decisions to reunite and work on our marriage.

At the end, the separation turned out advantageous as we grew closer to each other. We realised our mistakes and attempted to rectify all of it. We also decided to do things together, be more open to each other and motivate one another.

The Lord received His rightful place in our household. We would nothing without consulting and acknowledging Him. He became truly the centre of our household. Due to this, God has just opened doors which only He can close. He even made both our dreams come true. Therefore He deserves all praise.

Marriage between two earthly beings can be compared with the Christ disciple relationship. Both require undivided attention, trust and love. No marriage, as said, can reach great heights if God is not part of it. Our marriage took time to develop. There are joy, sorrow, pain and lots of other influencing factors.

Yes, beloveds, even doubts characterized our marriage. Satan tried to intervene with his agenda, but God carried us through it all. The same principles apply to discipleship. There are also many difficulties to overcome. Becoming a successful follower of Christ, may seem a lengthy road to journey on, but all, in the end, is worth it.

If so, what is then the recipe for successful relationships with our Heavenly Father? The content of this article aims to provide stepping stones to successfully communicating with God and fellow man.

Christ disciple relationships are not based upon any religious figurehead, organization, ceremony or religious exercise. It is based purely on our faith in Him and our response to God's free gift of salvation. Serious relationships with the Father may eventually grant a place in Heaven.

A local doctor, who also has interests in a transport company, replied when asked, during an interview with a newspaper reporter, for the recipe for his business success, "We should dream big and not wait for inspiration, but motivate ourselves.

Cherish your vision and your dreams as they are the blueprints of your ultimate achievements," Based on this, we can successfully follow Christ. God is a great God therefore having a big vision, reflects his superiority.

Testimonies, indeed effective tools for successful discipleship, have long been part of Christianity. The testifying of the presence, goodness and love of the Almighty God is a prerequisite for all Christians. There can be no doubt about this as the mission of Christianity includes the winning of souls for the Kingdom of God.

Everything is based on the Word of God that states "Go ye there." Matthew 10:11 "And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence"

Testimonies assist people in identifying their identities, regarding abilities and talents. It is also effective in their salvation. The development of a sense of identity can be a crucial part of growing up, of moral formation and social education."(Jesus Christ) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:14).


Our salvation, the purpose of it, is spelled out clearly in this verse. Christ saved us in order for us to become a distinct people. We are set apart from the rest of the world. Christians, and everyone that believeth in Him, are indeed people for His own possession. We are special people whom He would not be ashamed to call His own. God can reveal Himself, via this channel, to the world. His glory will definitely be reflected.

The apostle Peter, according to 1 Peter 2:9, said the same thing "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:"

We thus have a direct relationship with Jesus Christ. Our personal relationships with God are indeed singular and completely vertical. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, together with His resurrection from the dead, made salvation possible. He allows us, through grace, access to the redemption and righteousness that He provides. Jesus is definitely our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14).

We must all come, through Christ, to God as individuals. No one can respond to and believe in Christ for us."Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." (1 Corinthians 12:28 NIV) Sadly, the Bible tells us that God is indeed not happy about man`s lifestyles. God longs that each of us will come to repentance and accept Him into our lives.

One would think that other people`s doings has got nothing with us. Wrong! Christianity, unfortunately, is based on love. Being Christians mean that we have to share mutual love amongst each other. Loving our Maker is equaled important. Our relationship with Jesus enables us to be attached to each other. Loving each other mean helping your neighbour under all circumstances. This is irrespective of race or creed.

Beloveds, we are the body of Christ. We are His ambassadors upon the earth. The Bible, as per 1 Cor. 12, teaches us that each of us are vital to the whole. Each of us is attached to the head; Jesus. We all fill different roles in the church, in our families and in society, but are srill individually attached to Jesus.

God wants us to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for everybody. The secret lies behold in the fact that Christ lives in you. We are given the assurance of sharing His glory. (Colossians 1:26-27)
Remember, Christ lives in you. This is the same Jesus that lived in the Apostles. Yes, beloveds, He lives in you and me. Believe it or not! We have the same Word, filled with the same Holy Spirit and received the same commission.

The message of Christ; the good news of the gospel, has to live in all of us. God`s way, no other way. The call for discipleship in the body of Christ is upon us. Do you sense it? If yes, we, as believers, are compelled to carry His message to an unbelieving world.

"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?" Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the worldlike a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.

Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5:13-16 NLT)

The message of Christ needs to live in us in order for people need to be able to recognize the difference in our lives. Yes, beloveds, people need to be able to hear the message of Christ from each one of us. Remember, we are God`s disciples.

Very important is the fact that we need to be able to deliver the truth. God wants us to believe Jesus Christ entirely washed away all the sins of the world with His baptism and blood on the Cross. The reason was to make us children of God. Most Christians believe that they can be saved by believing only in the Cross of Jesus.

The true gospel is that Jesus Christ came to this world. This is non debatable! He came in the flesh of man and was baptized by John the Baptist, the representative of mankind, at the Jordan.

Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. He took away all the sins of the world by carrying them to the Cross. Jesus was crucified to save all people from their sins and judgment.

We should all grow to the place where we demonstrate not only what we believe, but also why we believe it. We need to answer questions about Christ (1 Peter 3:15). Testimonies are normally used as first steps in this process.

We, at different seasons, came to Christ from different walks of life. We should therefore not measure ourselves against each other, but only be concerned if we stagnate. We must always be ready and willing to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. W

e are God's chosen and special people. We, as a group of royal priests and a holy nation, were brought out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Prayer and bible study are important aspects for believers. We must always engage in it. The Bible must always be on our lips. We ought to meditate daily on it and do everything written in it. By doing this, we will then be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8 NIV).

Our faith is fed by and based on the word of God (Romans 10:17). Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh (John 1:14) and Christ lives in you. Very important: know what you believe, read and study the word and, lastly, meditate upon it. The Holy Spirit will renew your mind. Your world view will also be changed from earthly to heavenly. This will happen when you get full of the Word (Ephesians 5:26; Romans 12:2).

The message of Christ is founded upon the Word of God. The Word of God provides meaning and definition to our experience with Christ. We need to know the message of the gospel before we share the message of the gospel We must always be prepared If we are full of the Word of God and connected to Him through worship and prayer.

There are many opportunities that present themselves to share the message of the gospel.We must always preach the Good News, be ready at all times and tell people what they need to do. Further, we must tell them when they are wrong and encourage them with great patience. We must also engaged in teaching (2 Timothy 4:2 NCV)

Our way or manner of living on earth, together what we truly believe in, will determine what our final destination will be. The human being, although consisting of two different parts, operates as a unit. Both have been created by God who commands us to use our bodies as temples for Him. He needs to be glorified through our bodies.

Therefore we, the children of God, cannot do otherwise, but carry the message of salvation to all the corners of the world upon instruction from the Highest Seat. We rapidly need to preach and teach the Word.

We are compelled to make use of every second to carry the message of salvation over to the lost world. We have to tell them that His mercy can and will be bestowed on all these people that accepts Him into their lives.

Unfortunately, no one can be redeemed of his sins under religionized Christianity. He / she can only suffer and lament under the unbearable burden of their sins.
Are we still listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit? Are we still eager on evangelism? Are we still looking for the open doors? Do we still share God's love with those in our daily lives? Are we ready for the cause?

Being filled with God's Word and full of God's Spirit ensures that we are used in evangelism. We begin to see things from the Lord's perspective. People need the message of hope that we have believe. We are used by God to reach a lost and hurting world.

Our calling, ministry and life of faith following Christ is enriched and edified via the local church, but not dependent upon it. We cannot expect the church to provide us something that Jesus has already given (Acts 2:39).

The primary pursuit of God can be found in individual worship, prayer and Bible study. The local church, with its leaders, have been ordained by God to strengthen, perfect and edify us as believers (Ephesians 4:11-16).

It can never replace our personal pursuit of the Lord.
We should regularly testify of what God is doing or has done in our lives. Believers have powerful opportunities and responsibilities towards representing the Lord Jesus Christ to this world. We are the carriers of His love, His grace, His faith, His Word, His Spirit, etc.

We cannot simply be spectators, but be available as channels through which the Lord Jesus wants to reach the world

Whilst reading the article, you might mention or even think:"Alfonso, I thought this was going to be like a normal, practical article" Aha! This is the catch. You could have tried to put it into action in your own strength, but to what benefit? What will you gain upon your own efforts?

The Bible mentions that efforts without God are to be declared null and void. Everything is just haste with no definite goal. Yes, beloveds, a journey with no concrete destination.

Therefore, unless you learn to tap into the power of God whilst studying the contents of this article, it will only be a little bit useful to you.

However, if we get that connection going and set our sights on having our emotions redeemed, not forgetting God's power that must be at work within us, can we become like Jesus and love people. Guess what? We will then make ten times the progress.

An unknown author expresses it beautifully by saying the following:"My thoughts direct my actions, My actions become my habits, My habits define my character, And , my character is the birthplace of my destiny.

These stunning words give us indeed something to think about. What forms the centre of our thoughts leads to what actions we are going to take at some stage in our lives. We are not perfect people, but we still need to strive to perfection.

Postponement and its dangers are nicely wrapped up in Die Burger`s reporter Danie Keet article "Van uitstel kom afstel." (Saturday 16 March 2013). This article mentions the fact that, although good planning is essential, postponement can be accepted as some sort of personality trait.

Perception creates a situation is where everything is left for the last moment. The person involved promises not to repeat that terrible mistake. Sadly, this is not to be. Many people base their thoughts on "Tomorrow is another day". They thus see the next day as another opportunity to complete the given task.

Mike Liftman, a well known radio presenter, is convinced that those who love to postpone have a lower level of commitment. His statement is based on dreams and wishes of perfection, rather than realistic appreciation of their potential and commitments.

However, this pattern or way of life can be broken. If not, it can hold serious consequences for the person, including those around that person, involved.

Postponement, that causes bad health and spiritual conditions, can be seen as a big bomb that explodes in your personal goals.

Everybody have things that you highly appreciate. However, this is then destroyed as result of this explosion. The end result is everlasting sorrow that leaves us feeling empty and unfulfilled. Therefore one needs to motivate and reward you. This can only be done with the help of the Lord.

Richard Jon Smith, an international singer, has amongst the lyrics of one of his songs: "Where would we have been if it wasn`t for Jesus?" How true are these words?

Beloved, do not postpone, but act today, tomorrow might cost your place in the Kingdom. You may also save yourself a lot of unnecessary trouble, pain and even sorrow.

God bless!

Alfonso lives in Mamre, South Africa and is married to Jean. Both are born - again Christians. Alfonso is a full - time minister of the Word and author of Christian materials.

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