Predetermined Ports of Call
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD…” (Psalm 37:23). “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off” (Psalm 139:2).
One of the most life-changing books I have ever been privileged to read is The Knowledge of the Holy by A. W. Tozer. It is a wonderful book that explains in easily understood language the attributes of God. As Tozer said in defining an attribute of God, “It is meant simply whatever may be correctly ascribed to God…an attribute of God is whatever God has in any way revealed as being true of Himself.” In the next to the last chapter of his book he discusses the sovereignty of God. “God’s sovereignty is the attribute by which He rules His entire creation, and to be sovereign God must be all-knowing, all-powerful, and absolutely free.” In this illuminating chapter, Tozer discusses the free will of man and God’s sovereignty. He also tells what he calls, “a homely illustration to help us understand.” I read this many years ago and it did help me understand. “An ocean liner leaves New York bound for Liverpool. Its destination has been determined by proper authorities. Nothing can change it. This is at least a faint picture of sovereignty. On board the liner are several scores of passengers. These are not in chains, neither are their activities determined for them by decree. They are completely free to move about as they will. They eat, sleep, play, lounge about on the deck, read, talk, altogether as they please; but all the while the great liner is carrying them onward toward a predetermined port.”
After a conversation with my next door neighbor yesterday, I was inspired to pen these few lines, keeping in line with Tozer’s analogy. A port of call is a regular stopover for ships. A port is a haven, a place where sea travelers can unload their goods, find shelter in time of storm, and rest to prepare for the remainder of the sailor’s journey. I am so thankful for the predetermined “ports of call” the Lord has assigned to me. Let us be thankful for:
I. The Marriage Port of Call
Recently one of our fine young singles asked, “Pastor, do you believe that God has ‘the’ one for me to marry?” I unequivocally answered, “Yes!” I have often pondered this question myself. When I was going to attend a college in another state, my transfer had been discussed, I was set up, then due to circumstances, I did not make the move. The college I was planning on transferring to was also where my wife-to-be was attending. I had made up my mind that the next year I would transfer. Well, that next year I changed my mind and made a decision to attend another college. Interestingly enough, my wife also made a decision to transfer to the same college. When Barbara and I met and discovered love, I knew it was so much more than a “falling in love” experience; I sensed our love was designed and orchestrated by Almighty God. I believe it was so providential that I would have met her in the first college I was praying about transferring to, but since I took another route, that did not throw the proverbial “monkey wrench” into God’s plans, He simply set us up for the encounter the next year. Even in this, His timing was perfect. What was a second choice to me, was all part of God’s process.
“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him” (II Samuel 22:31).
“It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect” (Psalm 18:32).
As I look back at our first date, the Friday activity to the Rescue Mission in Chicago, I see the hand of God. Barbara playing the piano, while I led the singing; the friends that set up this evening, the diner at Berkhouf’s were all God’s doing.
My heart rejoices when I consider the way our married children met. For Heather, a friend that sat near her in classes became a best friend, a counselor, and finally the man she fell in love with and married. You can’t help but agree the plan of God was carried out when you see their little boy, Caleb! For our second daughter Juliana, the young man who admired her across the campus looking for a chance to meet her “happened” to have an umbrella when it was pouring down rain and escorted her to the next building. He kept walking her to places around campus, until one day in this church he walked her down the aisle after wedding vows. Their Mom and I pray for nothing less than the same for our sons. Yes, I believe in “the” one; a rendezvous with destiny!
“A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
II. The Ministry Port of Call
I love the phrase of Eleazer, when he said, “...I being in the way, the LORD led me…” (Genesis 24:27). The Bible tells of the time that Phillip won the prestigious Ethiopian to Christ, “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert…Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot” (Acts 8:26, 29).
There are ministry ports of call to which you sense the Lord has directed. Last week I was riding on a jet back to Houston from Jacksonville, Florida. I met a young man by the name of David. He was a young sailor on his way home to Oakland, California. He was in active service guarding our shores of New York Harbor on a ship the day after 9-11-01. He later was assigned to “Operation Enduring Freedom” in the mid east. And now he was in a ship just off the coast of Florida. During leave he flew home and on the Houston part of his journey he prayed and asked the Lord to save him. There was no mistaking; the Lord had us sit together. That is the most important port to which that sailor has or ever will be assigned!
I have a next door neighbor named Mike. We have exchanged greetings and talked through the years. I have been burdened for his soul ever since he, his wife and children moved next door. Yesterday we talked and before two hours were up he had invited Christ to become his personal Savior! It was glorious! Just before he left (these words were the inspiration for today’s article), he said to me, “I did not know what God had in mind when he gave me you for a neighbor,” then with a huge smile he said, “Now I do!” I lay down with those words ringing in my mind and woke up thinking about that.
God does have great things in mind, fascinating and purposeful “ports of call” for us. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).
- Pastor Pope -