skip to content

Get on the Lifeboat!

Get on the Lifeboat!

Get the discussion questions for Get on the Lifeboat!

Perhaps you have heard of the Titanic? If not, here are the basic facts: Big ship. Bigger iceberg. Bad ending.

The Titanic's maiden voyage was supposed to transport over 2000 people from England to New York. At the time it was the largest passenger ship in the world, and it was also among the most technologically advanced in terms of its ability to stay afloat in case of damage. Because of this, many believed the Titanic to be essentially unsinkable.

Essentially, it wasn't. The Titanic struck an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. (ship's time) on Sunday evening April 14, 1912, and two hours and forty minutes later was completely under the waters of the icy cold Atlantic. Over 1500 people lost their lives, and the saddest part is that the huge death toll could have been avoided.

How? Well, let me count the ways. First, the crew received numerous iceberg warnings that never got to the right people. Second, when they did see the iceberg, they turned the ship so that the side was exposed. Basically this allowed the iceberg to rip through the hull, which is what led to the disaster. If the Titanic had stayed the course and hit the iceberg straight on, it most likely would not have sank.

Here's where it gets even sadder. There were enough lifeboats to get over 50% of the crew and passengers to safety, but the majority of the boats were only partially full because most of the passengers didn't believe that the Titanic was actually going to sink. Sure, there were crew members pleading with them to get in the boats before it was too late, but there were also other voices from people (who didn't believe the crew) urging folks to stay aboard. And why not? The warm cabins, bright lights, and beautiful surroundings blinded them from the inevitable disaster...so most of them didn't realize that the lifeboats were the only way out until it was too late.

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be on the Titanic? Let's go there for a minute. You are on an incredible vessel going on a fantastic voyage, and whether you are rich or poor - who cares? You get to be a part of history. As well, you carry around a complete sense of security, because you know this ship can't sink. But that fateful night when you feel the Titanic shake and perceive the confusion starting to build around you, that security doesn't feel so secure anymore.

So what would you do? Jump in a lifeboat? Ignore the crew? Deny that anything is happening?

Let me throw an idea your way. Planet earth is the Titanic. It's Maker put together a beautiful vessel, but soon after we launched it hit a huge iceberg called sin, and like it or not -believe it or not, we're going down. One day our lives and this world are going to end, and just like the Titanic, there is only one way out of the destruction. Jesus is the lifeboat, and He has the capacity to save not 50%, but 100% of the world. All people have to do is trust Him as the only way out!

But many don't, because they ignore the warnings and the begging words of other Christians urging them to believe Jesus when He said these life saving words:

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Why don't they listen? Because there are other voices. There's Andy the Atheist telling folks that there really is no iceberg...it's a childish myth, and needing a lifeboat is just a crutch. Then there's Ryan the Religious, who claims that if you just swim hard enough, you'll make it to New York. If you listen even harder, you'll hear other voices claiming that it doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you believe something, you'll be safe.

Meanwhile, time is running out, and you realize that if the lifeboats are the only way out, then all the other voices are wrong. Are they bad people? No...they probably just got blinded by the apparent safety of the world around them. Or maybe it's pride, because jumping in the lifeboat is admitting you can't save yourself...and some people can't bring themselves to do that.

But you did...and now you must shout back to the ship that the other voices are a sure path to destruction. Do you insult them? No. Do you try and tear down everything they believe? No. What then? SHOW PEOPLE THE BOAT! Show them that there is room. Show them that Christ is real and really the only way, because tolerance of other 'paths' may be cool...but you must remember that tolerance for other paths also kills.

Head: What you need to know about this truth

Jesus claimed to be the only way to heaven, and then proved it by coming back from the dead. All other religions deny this, therefore they are wrong and do not lead to heaven.

Heart: What you need to feel about this truth

Do you feel as desperate to reach your friends as a person on a sinking ship? If not, why not? If so, how are your 'life saving' efforts going? Check out this guy's story for a great example of how we should see people in need: Subway Superman.

Hands: What you need to do about this truth

The majority of people involved in other religions have been raised that way, or simply are not aware of Jesus' claims. One of the best ways to help get these people out of their deadly belief system is to know what you're talking about when it comes to their religion. This week, take some time to find out their spiritual beliefs, then do some life saving research. To get you started, Dare 2 Share has put together a great resource that summarizes the major views out there.