John Mortimer tells of an old man who has braved the English channel many times in his yacht.  “It’s not dangerous at all,” said the gray-bearded seaman, “provided you don’t learn to swim.”

“When you’re in a spot of trouble,” he continued, “if you can swim you try to strike out for shore.  You invariably drown.  As I don’t swim, I cling to the wreckage.  That’s my tip; if you are in trouble, cling to the wreckage.”

Paul had suffered shipwreck at Melita and perhaps had survived on the wreckage (Acts 27).  Perhaps that is why he later wrote about “shipwreck faith” in I Timothy 1:19.  Two Christians had run into trouble when they lost their hold on a good conscience and faith.  Instead of clinging to the wreckage (pieces and planks of faith and conscience), they must have struck out on their own for shore. According to Paul they had fallen prey to Satan.

When trouble comes, the best advice is still to “Cling to the Wreckage.”

Larry