A SINKING SHIP
A ship was sailing along a calm ocean. Its
captain was a renowned and skilled mariner with long years of experience and
expertise in safe sailing even in the rough sea. The confidant crew had absolute
faith in their captain’s efficiency. But quite unexpectedly, the ship sailed
away from the established path and collided against a large rock. The ship was
split into two parts which drowned, killing most of the mariners. The
Government ordered an official enquiry about the unexpected accident.
Finding no easy clue, the team of
investigators deputed divers to recover the essential equipment in the ship. In
those days, a mariner’s compass was the major equipment to determine the
direction of sailing. The compass was examined in detail. It was found to point
to a direction different from the north. Further study showed that the needle
was pointing in a definite direction in the compass, without displaying any
effect of the magnetic north pole. A metallic object was detected within the
compass which was misdirecting the magnetic needle. It was identified as the
tip of an iron knife used by someone for a minor repair of the compass, such as
moving the lid up to make the needle free to rotate. But, without the notice of
the person, the tip of the iron knife broke and remained there, causing deviation in the direction of the magnetic needle and thus misdirecting the
huge ship away from the standard channel and ending in a tragic ship wreck.
The word of God is given to us to provide correct direction in case of confusion in the voyages and tempests of life. Distortions and misinterpretations of the Divine words are sure to misdirect us from the correct path of life. No one is permitted to alter the words of God as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. St. Paul warns the Galatians, “There are some people who are upsetting you and trying to change the Gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preached to you, may he be condemned to hell!” {Galatians 1: 7-9}.
The word of God is given to us to provide correct direction in case of confusion in the voyages and tempests of life. Distortions and misinterpretations of the Divine words are sure to misdirect us from the correct path of life. No one is permitted to alter the words of God as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. St. Paul warns the Galatians, “There are some people who are upsetting you and trying to change the Gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preached to you, may he be condemned to hell!” {Galatians 1: 7-9}.
We believe in the principles and practices
of our parent Church. We believe that they are based on the Sacred Scriptures
and holy traditions gifted to us by God. Persons disguised as scholars and
advisers may meet us and try to confuse us with their eloquent words. They may
try their best to misinterpret the Scriptures and argue that our faith and
rituals are wrong and against the words of God. We should be aware of their
tricks. We must love our Church and learn the Scriptures and the doctrines of
the Church systematically. Then false prophets cannot mislead us from the path
of truth.
Jesus warned us, “Be on your guard against
false prophets; they come to you looking like sheep on the outside, but on the
inside they are really like wild wolves. You will know them by what they do.
Thorn bushes do not bear grapes, and briars do not bear figs” {Matthew 7: 15, 16}.
The Bible is to be read and studied systematically,
assimilated actively and practised properly in daily life. Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnated as
man. The Bible is the Word of God incarnated in the language of man.
King
David sings in the Psalms, “Your
Word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path” {Psalms 119:105}. St. Paul exhorts us to
get ready for the war against Devil using the Word of God as the sword of the
soul: “And accept salvation as a helmet and the Word of God as the sword which
the Spirit gives you” {Ephesians 6:17}.
“The Word of God is alive and active; sharper
than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and
spirit meet. It judges the desires and thoughts of man’s heart” {Hebrews 4:12}.
……………………………………………………………………..
© By: Prof.
Dr. Babu Philip, Darsana Academy, Kottayam-686001, Kerala, India
( Former Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts
Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India), Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu,
Former Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally, Leo.
S. John, St. Antony's Public School, Anakkal, Kanjirappally and Neil
John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally,
Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
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