Moment of Meditation: Shipwrecked Faith (1 Timothy 1:19)

Original Broadcast: February 2011

Monthly Theme: Pastoral Epistles (1 Timothy 1-2)

By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith
(1 Timothy 1:19)

Shipwrecked Faith

Paul knew about shipwrecks. He had been in three of them (2 Corinthians 11:25). He knew what it was like to float on top of the boat's debris throughout the night until you either washed up on shore or another boat found you.

Every time I read this passage, it reminds me of the Titanic. The unsinkable ship found an iceberg that didn't believe the hype. The ship was never able to be used again after the shipwreck. So too, Paul says, of people who shipwreck their faith.

How do you shipwreck your faith? You embrace ideas and beliefs that can't be found in the Bible because they're not there. You shipwreck your faith by believing that what God calls abominations are acceptable. After a while, like the Titanic, your faith is no longer useful to you. It won't be able to help you stand on the Last Day.

Jesus doesn't want you to shipwreck your faith. He wants to carry you in the ark of His Church. He wants you to base your life on the Baptism He gave to you. There you were clothed in His righteousness and given the gift of life everlasting. Amen.