‘Tis The Set Of The Sail

Our friends in Rajahmundry in India had put their two children in a boarding school in their town this academic year.  Their son was in sixth grade, and the daughter was in eleventh.  In about two weeks, their son complained about being bullied.  It was because he was the only one who prayed morning and evening and read the Bible daily!  Their daughter also was bullied, but she was able to stand firm.  So they decided to bring their son home till he could handle it.  The poem, 'Tis The Set Of The Sail' by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, brings out this thought beautifully!                            

One ship drives east, and another drives west 

With the self-same winds that blow; 

 'Tis the set of the sails and not the gales 

That tells them the way to go.

The wind that blows is the same, but the ship sails in the direction determined by the way the sails are set!  

We often blame the circumstances or how the world works to join the world instead of doing right and living right.  What gives us the strength to stand up and do right when everyone else is doing wrong?   We must be rooted and built on the Word, and then the Holy Spirit will surely help us stand firm and guide us to our destination.  That is how Enoch was able to walk in righteousness in his generation.  That is how Noah was able to live righteously in his generation.  That is the only way we can go against the current and live righteously in our generation.  It needs determination, dedication, and a conscious decision to seek holiness in every situation.  Satan sows negative thoughts, despair, doubt, thoughts of greed, lust, revenge, and unforgiveness in our hearts. The Bible encourages us to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor 10:5).   If we do not check and root them out in time, our lives will be ship wrecked!  

My friend, do not neglect the systematic study of the Bible.  Study alone is not sufficient.  Practice what the Bible says with the help of the Holy Spirit.  Many have been ship wrecked by following the world.  Let us consciously decide to live holy lives even in this generation. 

Like the winds of the sea are the winds of fate 

As we voyage along through life; 

 'Tis the set of the soul that decides its goal

And not the calm or the strife.

                                                            Ella Wheeler Wilcox

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