At every drag boat race, you will always find an armada of boats in the pits. You’ll come across various hull shapes and personal designs to meet an individuals likes. And most of them are brightly endowed with all the beautiful colors found in God’s incredible rainbow.
Did you know that the Creator of the universe has His own contingent of ships gliding around the worlds’ seas and through the lives of the people of His kingdom? We find Jesus in a boat several times in the Bible, and each time, He has a teaching lesson in mind for His disciples.
As He often does, Christ takes His disciples from the classroom to the laboratory to demonstrate His point. That is why it is very important to always follow God closely enough to watch and learn about Him and His fleet of ships.
God’s fleet is also known as the Heavenly Hot Ship Association. Of course, in the HHSA, Jesus is the Main-ship of the organization because He is the Head-ship. “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy” (Colossians 1:18). He alone leads this flotilla through the waters of humanity. His leadership will guide all the other ships as the preeminent LORD is distinguished above all others.
The ships that Christ launches are taken under His special care and protection, and though danger may arise, He takes particular care of them. This care is for the benefit of those that have hope and joy in Christ, and are willing to follow Him wherever He leads.
This fleet of God is for everyone. Because of God’s grace, the gospel gives wide open access to His fleet of Christian ships. The message of grace found in the New Testament calls us to a completely different outlook in our relationship with God, unlike the spiritual achievements that are found in any religion of human invention. Understanding the nature of grace, we decisively reject any confidence in ourselves, and we trust ourselves totally to Jesus, who alone is able to not only declare us truly righteous men and women of God, but also make us so.
The first ship is “Courtship.” God was courting you long before you ever knew or cared about Him. We are attracted to Him because He first loved us. The Spirit leads us to a place and time in life where we finally give in and develop a desire to get to know God. Once we discover His love and goodness, we want the courtship to continue.
“Friendship” comes along when we discover that Almighty God calls us His friends (John chapter fifteen). Friendships are started through an introduction process as God introduces us to Himself through His Word, His Spirit, and through other people who have been friends with Him.
The “Relationship” is a deepening aspect of human life. Intimate relationships take more time and effort than just conversation. It’s usually conformity to one another’s character traits. It involves adoration and humble surrender to another person. The person of Jesus Christ is the one that you’ve been longing for. With God, the relationship means you’ve been reconciled back to Him. You’re on an even keel spiritually. This stability of your life has you standing firm in your kinship as you’ve been joined together … two become one as each one cares for the other.
The “Discipleship” leads to a growing relationship as God is preparing you not only to enjoy the abundant life He has given you here on earth, but understanding that He is also preparing you for your heavenly home. Scripture says “Go and make disciples of all nations” of people.
A disciple is to study, and learn, “And do your best to present yourself to God as one approved” (2Timothy 2:15). Put forth an effort to develop the relationship by knowing more about what makes it tick. Discipleship is the most important aspect of Christianity. Once you get it, you then pass it along to the next person, and this discipleship leads to the next ship.
The “Worship” is praise and thanksgiving at its peak. We are to “Worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Reverence extended through our adoration of God means that He gets all the glory for everything. Gratitude is “In all things give thanks for that is the will of God in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This heart-felt exaltation becomes more intense as you grow more in love with God. Obedience leads to a closer union. Psalm 95:6-7 says “Let’s worship, lay our lives down at His feet, and tell Him that He’s all we need.”
The “Fellowship” is what people do when they come together and enjoy their conversation centered on Christ, the true center of the universe. “Do not forsake gathering together, as some have done” (Hebrews 10:25). “If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another” (1John 1:7). And, we are all “Called into the fellowship of his Son” (1Corinthians 1:9). We should be of the same mind since we’re on board the same ship.
The “Workmanship” is the one constructed to be more like God. “In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path” (Proverbs 3:6). The Bible says that “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). Look around, everything points to God … thus His workmanship leads us back to God. Let us triumph in the works of God’s hands.
The “Stewardship” is using what God has entrusted you with, because your body is described as the temple of the Holy Spirit. We must take care of this hull of ours as if we were taking care of a brand new Watercraft. Our family, finances, and focus on how to figure out who we are and how to live God’s way … is actually planning for the present and yet pursuing a positive departure depicting discipleship’s dandy declaration.
The “Kingship” is a description of the royalty in the Master’s fleet … as the other ships will follow and know the power of His blessing as the head of the fleet.
The “Lordship” is a tell-all about who is Lord of all. Speaking of Christ, who happens to be over all of God’s ships? As the saying goes, “If Christ is not Lord of all He is not Lord at all.” John 15:5 says “You can do nothing without me.” The truth is the Lordship will set you free to sail the high-seas.
The “Battleship” is comprised of God’s armor found in the book of Ephesians … we must always be equipped with the armor of God if we want to survive the battle that is being waged for our souls.
Christians have been courted by God to come aboard His ship and settle in for a long voyage across the ocean of life. There is safety in numbers; that is why we need to hang-out together as often as possible. Christians need friends who will stick closer than a brother—a relationship like no other on land or sea. Christians can learn more by digging deeper into discipleship just as an archeologist would search for hidden things.
Christians must be grateful as they intently worship the Lord. Christian fellowship is one thing that holds the ship together in any kind of weather. Christian workmanship is what is seen by the outside world as believers go about their daily business. Christians who know how to handle all of their affairs in a godly manner show that their joy is in the stewardship that has been entrusted to them. Christians who regard God as King realize that He is the One on the throne—as His kingship reigns supreme. Christians who know that the best choice is to give in to God and let His Lordship be at the front of the fleet are the ones who utilize God’s wisdom … knowing He is the Headship.
Because of God’s ship building experience and quality of His grace, we always have access to this fleet of Christian ships.
God is not a charm to be worn around your neck. God is not a pleasure boat to be used when you want to take Him for a ride. God is not dingy that you can let down to rescue you in the middle of a storm. God is not a rookie sailor who can barely get you out of the harbor. God is not a sharp dressed officer that you only salute when you cross His path.
God is the only One who can bring you safely home after your tour of duty on this planet has been completed. God is the only one who needs to be acknowledged as Savior of your soul. Remember, you’re just a fleet manager in the Almighty’s awesome armada.
When we submit to Jesus’ lordship, we’ll give Him our worship. Is God the captain of your ship? Is He captain of all the ships in you arsenal? Please don’t miss the boat (I mean ship).