Beech Tree News Network

I am sure our readers are familiar with the recent news of the loss of the OceanGate Titan and its tourists who were taking an underwater excursion to see the wreckage of the Titanic. We hurt for the lives lost and the families who now must bear the sorrow and loss of their family members. We need to keep their families in prayer in the days and weeks ahead. What a tragedy!

Yet, when thinking about this tragedy, I also see some pertinent and poignant lessons to learn from this tragic loss of life. What can we learn?

One thing we learn is that death comes to all. The Hebrew writer reminds us that “it is appointed unto man once to die” (Heb. 9:27). While we have no lease on life and do not know how long our lives might last, we know that there is an end to this life’s existence. “The living know that they shall die” (Ecc. 9:5)! I understand that among those onboard the Titan was Stockton Rush, the founder, and CEO of OceanGate. Another man named Paul-Henri Nargeolet was aboard. I am told he had led many expeditions to the Titanic. He had gone on dives in submersibles as well. He was an “old hand” at this kind of trip! The youngest aboard was Suleman Dawood, age 19, who had gone on this trip with his father, Shahzada.

My point is not to merely report on the people aboard but to show us the undeniable truth of passages like Ecclesiastes 9:5, Hebrews 9:27, and many others. We have no promise of tomorrow! Regardless of how old you are, how much money you have (or don’t have), where you live, or how educated you are, death is on the horizon (Ecc. 11:9-12:7)!

Another thing we can learn from this tragedy is the truth that “no man is an island” (John Donne, 1572-1631). Donne’s poem also says, “Any man’s death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind.” While this is not a Bible citation, it is the teaching of Romans 14:7. Paul wrote, “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.” These people who died left behind families who loved them and left behind many others who had watched their expedition with great anticipation. We all mourn the loss of life because man’s life is precious.

Finally, the loss of the Titan reminds me that since I have no promise of tomorrow, I better make sure my soul is right with God. Paul declared, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (II Cor. 6:2). I am not commenting on the souls of those now in God’s keeping (Ecc. 12:7). I am talking to the living people reading this article. Are you ready to leave this world? To be prepared, you need to make sure and believe Jesus is the Son of God, repent of your sins, confess your faith in Christ, and then be baptized for the remission of sins (Jn. 8:24; Lk. 13:3; Rom. 10:10; Acts 2:38). This is the Lord’s plan (Acts 2-19), and we need to accept it today while we still have breath in our bodies. Listen to the Lord and prepare today because tomorrow may be too late!

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