The Year Was1912

This is a excerpt from the sermon preached by the Bishop of Winchester, St. Mary’s Church, South Hampton on the Sunday following the sinking of the Titanic. “Life lessons from the Titanic disaster”
The year was 1912 and there wasn’t a Better ship on the ocean. Everything a ship designer could imagine was built into it. It was magnificent. It was enormous. It was the Titanic. Not only was it the biggest, it was sleek, fast and could not sink. Every proven safety feature went into its construction. It slid out from Liverpool, England, on a serene April morning headed for New York harbor. Its passengers basked in luxurious elegance, Lavished in its décor, menus, and entertainment, it surpassed the highest expectations of its passengers.
Three quarters into its maiden voyage – on the fringe of the Newfoundland’s frigid banks – the Titanic became a catastrophic nightmare. A deceptively large iceberg, detached from the polar ice fields, was drifting in the North Atlantic shipping lanes. The collision tore open the haul of the fabulous Titanic. Within two hours, before the dawn of April 15, 1912, the unsinkable Titanic plunged to its death four miles below the icy surface, taking with it 1500 passengers, most of the crew, and all its treasures.
Now let us look at the lessons from the tragedy:

• “Not even God could sink the Titanic,” was the designer’s boast. We also have the deadly tendency to have excessive pride in our own resources. The Bible warns: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)
• Even when the Titanic struck the iceberg, the crew and passengers were confident that the “small iceberg could do little damage. We are also deceived into thinking that sin is minor and of little consequence. The Bible warns of the consequences of sin: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
• The sinking of the unsinkable Titanic illustrates the uncertainty of life and our need to be ready to stand before our Maker and Judge. The Bible urges you to be ready. Jesus tells a story about a wealthy farmer who said to himself: “Soul you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” But God said unto him, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” (Luke 12:19-20)
• This tragedy teaches a lesson of obedient response. Those aboard the doomed Titanic who responded quickly were saved. Those who ignored the warning perished.  The Bible spells out God’s urgent invitation to believe: Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.”  (2 Corinthians 6:2)

                                                                                       Credit to George Benes for parts of this article