02/14/17 I. B. GOODENOUGH IS DECEIVED

02/14/17 I. B. GOODENOUGH IS DECEIVED

Ichabod Ben Goodenough (known by his friends as I. B. Goodenough) had lived on a volcanic island for 20 years. All of that time the volcano had been dormant, but there was always the looming threat of a sudden and violent eruption, and recently there had been signs that the volcano was becoming active again.

Nearby islanders were assisting in the evacuation of the endangered islanders. However, I. B. kept refusing to evacuate the island, saying that he could take care of himself. The volcano began to rumble and spew ash, and it became obvious that a horrendous eruption was soon going to take place. To make matters even worse, a powerful tropical storm was bearing down on the island.

I. B. finally consented to get on board one of the last boats leaving the island. The rescue vessel crawled cautiously through the crashing surf, rising on each threatening crest and then dropping helplessly and thunderously into the next gaping trough. I B. was glad that he had gotten on the rescue vessel, realizing that he could not have survived the crushing grasp of the relentless breakers. After an interminable period, they finally got past the constant battering of wave after wave.

Though the pounding surf was now behind them, the mounting swells and rogue waves and howling winds continued to toss the tiny vessel like a cork. Twenty miles of dark fury still stood between them and safe harbor. Surprisingly, I. B. Goodenough approached one of the deck hands and said that he appreciated the captain and crew for getting him past the breakers, but he would be leaving the boat and continuing to safety, on his own.

Absurd story, right? Not really. I am constantly watching people abandon the life boat of God, thinking that their only threat was the line of breakers. Here is the ultimate absurdity. People who submit to God and put their faith in Christ, but then they abandon God's required means of salvation, thinking that they can throw themselves into the sea of sin, expecting to arrive in safe harbor. If we abandon God's means of salvation we abandon God, therefore we abandon salvation.

We are offered God's salvation. We can enter into God's salvation through faith. But we are only protected from eternal destruction if we continue in faith, throughout this life.

Colossians 1:21-23
(21) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
(22) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
(23) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;