All Aboard!!!

The un-saved are like those stranded at sea on a sinking vessel. The SOS call goes out from some onboard who realize their predicament and the Coast Guard is dispatched. The Coast Guard arrives and the ones who sent out the distress signal are first to board the Coast Guard cutter. From the stern of the Coast Guard ship those who are saved call out and warn of the impending doom for those who remain on the sinking ship. Some mock and ignore the advice to go see for themselves where the vessel is taking on water. The mockers continue to party while they entice those on the deck to join them below and ignore those who just want to ruin their fun. Some are enticed away while others search out to discover if what those that are already saved are saying is true. Eventually, all those that were left on deck do get aboard the cutter. However, as the cutter is leaving, some on the cutter continue to hear music and partying. As they look toward the vessel that they were rescued from they see that those that were below deck have come back up and continue to party. In disbelief that their old ship is truly sinking they jump ship to return to the partying.

Those who jumped ship never understood the fate of remaining aboard their doomed ship nor comprehended the sacrifice that was made to save them.**(Clarification: these represent those who have "tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit"{Hebrews 6:4-6} but because their heart was still loyal to the old ship -(Luke 17:32); they "fall away" {Heb 6:6} as their "love grows cold"{Matthew 24:12-13}. This DOES NOT indicate that a person can be saved multiple times- see verses below.)

Still, there were some aboard the old ship who wanted to keep a lifejacket on just in case the old ship was indeed sinking. The problem is that when the ship does sink... the lifejacket won't get them home.

If you are truly saved then you have nailed you sinful passions to the cross and crucified them there(Galatians 5:24). Although you will still sin, you have a new desire (2Corinthians 5:17) that wants to please God(Ephesians 5:1); which also works remorse within your spirit for sins and an active determination to forsake all sin(2Corinthians 7:10).

Jesus did not die so that you could wear Him like a lifejacket. You have to abandon the old ship and get aboard the new ship -2Corinthians 5:17.


Hear What The Parable Means:


The sea is death. The sinking vessel represents all that this world offers. Those on board the sinking vessel are the unsaved. The few who sent out the SOS signal are those who after having their mind illuminated to their lost condition and utter inability to save themselves; called out for deliverance to the One who is able to save them... Jesus Christ. The Coast Guard Cutter represents Salvation. The ones who first boarded the Cutter are the ones that called out for deliverance and forsook all that the old life had to offer with all its lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. After getting saved they tell those still living in sin of their fallen state and explain to them God's Judgment and the Gospel. Those who mock and draw some to come below deck are children of the world. Those that seek out whether what the ones that are saved are saying is true are those which are genuinely seeking the truth but have not yet made a decision to forsake the old life and all its pleasures. The ones that were still on deck that eventual go aboard the Cutter are those who are just following their friends or family. After a while the world and all its pleasures begin to pull at them and draws them back. These are the people spoken of in Hebrews 6:4-6 and Hebrew 10:26-30 who's hearts still have some loyalty to the world and so they looked back with lust to return to the old life and did so(Remember Lot's wife). The ones who remain on the old ship{including the ones who returned} die in their sin and go to hell. The ones who wear a lifejacket are the ones who claim to be Christians because it gives them some security in facing death but they never forsake the pleasures of the world and continue to willfully and without remorse live in sin. These, too, die in their sin and go to hell.

Hebrews 6:4-6

4 For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, became companions with the Holy Spirit, 5 tasted God's good word and the powers of the coming age, 6 and who have fallen away, because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding Him up to contempt. -HCSB

Hebrews 10:26-30

26 For if we deliberately sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries. 28 If anyone disregards Moses' law, he dies without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know the One who has said, Vengeance belongs to Me, I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge His people. -HCSB

Ezekiel 3:20

20 Now if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, and I put a stumbling block in front of him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die because of his sin and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. Yet I will hold you responsible for his blood. -HCSB

Ezekiel 33:12-13

12 "Now, son of man, say to your people: The righteousness of the righteous person will not save him on the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked person cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. The righteous person won't be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins. 13 When I tell the righteous person that he will surely live, but he trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, then none of his righteousness will be remembered, and he will die because of the iniquity he has committed. -HCSB