Who is your Pilot?

Most people are familiar with the word Pilot, used in the aviation industry. Aboard a ship, we also have captains. Depending on the size of the vessel, we also employ pilots. I just watched a 965-foot container ship pull out of Port Elizabeth, New Jersey. A ship of that size employs two pilots, one with expertise in Ambrose Channel (the main entrance into New York) and a Docking pilot, who directs the assist tugs and actually puts the ship to the dock.

The Docking pilot has to have a complete working knowledge of how wind, current and tide affects his ship. It may be the first time he has ever been on it, but he is still responsible for advising the captain about how these things will affect his ship. He also has to direct the movement of the tugboats usually two or three of them, to make a safe landing to the dock. If the captain of the tug cannot understand what the pilot wants him to do, or the ship's crew, often from overseas cannot understand the pilot's commands, disaster can ensue. The pilot trusts his tugs to do what he has asked. The ship captain must trust the pilot to safely navigate his ship.

Do you have a pilot as you venture into the harbor of life? Do you have someone you can trust to navigate you though this world's strong winds and flood tides? Do you enjoy the comfort of having someone watching you so you do not drift off course and run aground?

Psalm 23, NIV says:

 ¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
 ² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
 ³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
   for his name's sake.

Imagine being on the bridge of a ship, with Jesus as the pilot. He is the infallible, visible image of an infallible, invisible God. He will lead to the quiet waters. He will lead us along the right paths. His rudder commands are perfect. His plan is perfect. He is only waiting for us to be his assist tugs, waiting for His orders. If you trust Him to Pilot your ship to port, you will not be disappointed.

Jesus, Thank You for being the Pilot of my ship. Thank You for keeping me safe in the voyage we call life. You know where all of the hazards to navigation are, and while you may not direct us around all of them, we endure these hazards as part of your perfect plan, a plan where your will shall be done, on earth as it is in heaven. In Your name, we pray. Amen