Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
"Doomed No Longer"
Jun. 8, 2018
(Jesus said) "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
~ Luke 19:10 (ESV)
There is a lot of confusion out there concerning the Argentinian submarine, the San Juan.
For example, one nation says the sub was out on a routine patrol, while another nation says she was spying all around the Falkland Islands.
The official spokesperson for the Argentinean Navy says the ship was well-equipped. Others who have done some serious investigation say
1. the vessel had 600 fewer air filters than she should have and 95 percent of those filters they did have had passed their safe-usage expiration date;
2. the submarine had enough food for 34 people to make a seven-day trip. Unfortunately, the ship's crew consisted of 44 people;
3. the San Juan was not equipped with enough escape suits for all its crew.
If you're thinking all this sounds like a tragedy just waiting to happen, you would be absolutely right. The tragedy happened on November 15 of last year. On November 15, all communications coming from the submarine abruptly stopped.
It stopped because of a fire which began in the battery compartment of the submarine. It spread through most of the vessel. Eventually, the fire caused an implosion, and the vessel ended up sinking, with the loss of all hands aboard.
I would like you to think about that last line: "with the loss of all hands aboard."
Those words are so ominous, so fatal, so final. For those on board that ship, those words meant there is no hope, no reprieve, and no future.
Now I would like you to apply those same words to our sad, sorrow-filled sinful planet. How would it read, "This world existed with the eternal loss of all souls aboard."
After the fall into sin, that is what the Lord saw when He looked upon His once perfect planet. He saw generations of people being born, living their lives, and dying without any hope that things might change. Their sins made it certain they could not attain the perfection necessary to defeat death; their weaknesses robbed them of the ability to escape Satan's clutches.
This world existed with the eternal loss of all souls aboard.
So that our eternal history might be rewritten the Lord sent His Son to this world. True Man and true God, Jesus lived the perfect life we could not, refused the temptations which we had embraced, and carried our sins to the cross where He died. His third day resurrection from the grave was visible, tangible proof that His mission was a success.
No longer was it necessary for our lives to be lived without hope; no longer did the world's epitaph have to read, "All souls were lost."
Today, by the power of the Holy Spirit, those who once were doomed and dying are being shown the Redeemer who provides rescue. By God's grace may all souls aboard be saved.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, today we give thanks for sending Your Son to save the lost. May we do all we can to point others to His blood-bought forgiveness. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.
The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written by Khalea Rahman for Daily Mail on May 28, 2018. Those who wish to reference that article may do so at the following link, which was fully functional at the time this devotion was written: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5780097/Lost-Argentinian-submarine-did-not-food-oxygen.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
See also: https://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Crew-of-Argentine-San-Juan-Submarine-Endured-Hours-of-Agony--20180406-0018.html
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
There is a lot of confusion out there concerning the Argentinian submarine, the San Juan.
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