The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. For I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord, plans for your welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope. Job 33:4 Jeremiah 29:11
When I was a boy, my dad, a naval chaplain, took my brother and me aboard his ship. He escorted us all over it, showing us everything about his vessel. At the end of our tour, we sat down with my dad at the captain’s table for dinner. It was very formal, so we sat up straight, used good table manners, and were on our best behavior.
As many of you know, Navy ships have been vital to our nation’s safety and security. But it takes a long time to build one of these vessels. Today, for instance, an aircraft carrier can take up to 4 years to construct. However, in World War II, when there was a great need to get as many ships as possible into battle as soon as possible, it only took about a year to complete each one of them.
Back then, as is the case today, there were many kinds of Navy ships with different designs, sizes, capabilities, and purposes. Each is important in its own right, and all work together to keep our nation safe, as well as other nations safe who seek our help.
Comparatively, you and I have also been uniquely constructed, but our construction is not entirely from our biological father and mother but from the hands of God, who had each of us in mind long before He put our parents on earth.
You had set me apart before I was born and called me by Your grace. You formed my inward parts and wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Galatians 1: 5; Psalm 139:13
Each of us is well thought out and designed by God, who gives us various personalities, capabilities, skills, and purposes. And though we seem to look or even act like others, we are uniquely different, for God broke the mold after each of us was made.
In respect to this, my dad’s ship, the USS Jason, was a repair ship; its purpose was to fix, rebuild, and restore other Navy ships that had broken down at sea. After the Jason was launched in 1943 and put into action, it developed a unique history totally unto itself, logging over 50 years of service for our country. How many ships the Jason saved is not known, perhaps hundreds. But the point is, just as there was only one USS Jason in this world, there is only one of you in God’s kingdom. You are one of a kind to God and very special to Him.
Like the USS Jason, each of us was made by God to fulfill a purpose, and for some several purposes. But, whatever that purpose or purposes are, we are just as important to Him as another.
God’s preparation for each of us may vary, just like that of the USS Jason, which probably took a little more time to equip because cranes, hoists, and winches had to be put in place. Of course, the Jason had big guns too, but not as many as other naval ships. So likewise, some of us will experience more extended periods of building time, depending on what kind of ship God is making out of us.
God’s place of preparation and development may also differ; some do better at sea, and others need more time in the shipyard. This all depends upon what the Lord knows about us and what He knows about us in the days ahead.
However, whether God’s preparation is at sea or on land, one thing is evident throughout the Scripture, we are all made to be launched and sail the ocean. That means entering this world with a visible Christ on each of our decks, so others can see and consider Him for their lives.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations. Matthew 28:19
On a final note, don’t ever forget God is the one who made us who we are. In His eyes, we are what He wanted; He has no regrets. So, let us not throw away any part of ourselves by sinful disobedience or by listening to the skewed opinions of others. If we have sinned, then let us make it right with others as soon as possible so that we can return and see ourselves as God sees us, with no regrets. And never forget that God will always love us no matter what, good, bad, or in-between, for His love is unconditional.
Remember, and I mean always remember, that He has given each of us specific purposes in this life to fulfill. Some purposes may have come and gone, while others will come in the future. And if God has purposes for each of us, then we need to have purposes for ourselves as well.
Last Thought
Realize that when you received Christ as Lord, it was like having the perfect captain come aboard who knows exactly how to run your ship and get it where it needs to go. Therefore, let Him do all the steering, especially when the storms and hurricanes of this life hit.
When you asked Christ into your heart and made Him your captain, so to speak, you received a full measure of the Spirit, who is like a repair ship traveling with you day and night. His purpose is to fix everything that goes wrong in your life. All you need do is call out to Him for help. And like the motto of the USS Jason, Ready, Willing, and Able, so is the Spirit.
Scriptural References
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Note: This article was taken from my book, Always There to Repair, and can be found on Amazon.com and Barnes and Nobel. Or you can contact me personally at my email, kent@tmoments.com, and get an autographed copy at a reduced price.