Dale Ridge church of Christ

On April 22, 1915, passengers boarding the HMS Lusitania were handed this message from the Imperial Germany Embassy in Washington, D.C.:

“NOTICE! Travellers intending to embark on the Atlantic voyage are reminded that a state of war exists between Germany and her allies and Great Britain and her allies; … that, in accordance with formal notice given by the Imperial German Government, vessels flying the flag of Great Britain, or any of her allies, are liable to destruction in those waters and that travelers sailing in the war zone on the ships of Great Britain or her allies do so at their own risk.”

Fifteen days later, on today’s date, May 7, 1915, the Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat within sight of the Irish coast. In all, 1,195 people died, including 128 Americans. This event largely precipitated the US into WWI.
In many ways, the Lusitania disaster symbolizes the spiritual war we fight every day. The Lusitania could symbolize our world, destined one day to destruction by God Almighty. The German note to the travellers served as a warning, as the Bible serves as our warning to the impending destruction God will bring. However, the Bible, gives us a solution to the problem – preparation. Are you a Christian? Are you ready for the ship to go down? Or are you living it up in the dining hall?
Most of the passengers perished because of a lack of preparation. However, a few did survive. Professor Ian Holbourn, Laird of Shetland Isle, Scotland, was one of the few that took necessary precautions. He explained to the captain that more lifeboats should be taken aboard, that passengers should have regular evacuation drills, and lifebelts should be handed out. Unfortunately, his advice went largely unheeded. A few passengers, however, did listen to his advice, and on the day of the disaster, their preparation allowed them to quickly flee the ship and land on the Irish beach.
In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus tells a parable of ten virgins at a wedding – five wise and five foolish. The five wise brought enough oil to light their lamps all night, but the foolish virgins ran out of oil. They ran to the store to buy more, but in the meantime, the bridegroom arrived, and the foolish virgins were locked out of the wedding. Jesus finished the parable by saying, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Like the passengers on the Lusitania, we know not when our “ship” will sink, so let us always be prepared for our bridegroom, Jesus Christ!

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Filed under: Devotional, Justin Boitnott on April 16th, 2006