Who's In Charge

A certain sea captain and his chief engineer argued as to which of them was more important to the ship. Failing to agree, they resorted to a unique plan of swapping places.

The chief engineer ascended to the bridge and the captain went to the engine room. After a couple of hours the captain suddenly appeared on the deck covered with oil and soot.

"Chief!" he yelled, wildly waving aloft a monkey wrench. "You'll have to come down here; I can't make her go!”

"Of course you can't," replied the Chief. "We're aground!”

This argument between the captain and the chief engineer – and its results – mirrors the struggle that you and I face when it comes to who is in charge of our lives.

Jeremiah spoke the truth when he wrote: “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).  In fact, when you and I seek to take control and direct our own ships, we often “run it aground,” for “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

We need direction!  The real issue is LORDSHIP – who is going to be the lord of our lives – ourselves or the Lord?

God has made His Son Jesus both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). Jesus died on the cross to become our Savior – to pay the price for our sins. Then Jesus rose from the dead three days later. Now, He lives to be our Lord!

It is ONLY when we submit to Christ as the Lord of our lives that He can save us from sin and lead us to eternal life.  Following any other way leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).

Jesus said, "Not everyone who SAYS to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who DOES the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

To confess Christ as Lord AND to have Him as our Savior requires that we place
our faith and trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance to follow Him
(2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) in His name for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38). Confessing Christ as Lord also requires that we continue to follow Him faithfully.

"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not DO the things which I say?”  (Luke 6:46).

Don’t run aground!  Submit to the Captain, the Lord Jesus Christ!  He will lead you to eternal life in the beautiful port of heaven.

Won’t YOU submit your life to THE Lord?

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

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