Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
Paul's charge to Timothy is to fight the good fight by holding on to trust in God together with a clear conscience. Faith and conscience must be kept together, for throwing away a good conscience wrecks trust and ends in total spiritual ruin. That ruin comes by deliberately turning from truth to false teaching, worldliness, selfish ambition, and impure or dishonest living. Safety is found in steadfast obedience to God's law, watchful prayer, study of Scripture, and humble communion with Christ. Even after failure there remains a way back through confession, repentance, and renewed faith in Christ.
Paul's Charge and Shipwreck
Paul's charge to Timothy, his son in the gospel, was given according to the prophecies that went before on him, that he should war a good warfare by holding faith and a good conscience. Warring that good warfare requires holding faith and a good conscience together, and steadfast faithfulness is the safeguard in spiritual warfare. Putting away a good conscience causes shipwreck concerning faith, for those who cast these aside abandon the faith and become vulnerable to error and false teaching. Hymenaeus and Alexander stand as examples of men who rejected what was right and were disciplined so they might learn not to blaspheme, and rejecting the light God gives brings increasing darkness of mind. Holding to faith and a good conscience is necessary for faithful service, and a violated conscience is weakened so that constant watchfulness and prayer are needed while truth strengthens and fortifies against ruin.
The charge belongs with the commandment's aim of love out of a pure heart and sincere, unfeigned faith. Departing from charity out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned turns aside unto vain jangling and desiring to be teachers of the law without understanding. Christian service itself is that good warfare, carried out by holding fast to faith and a clear conscience. This holding fast must be maintained especially under provocation, by holding fast to the precious, sanctifying truth. Doing so places one in the best of company, with the very highest intelligences beholding the course of action as a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.
The shipwreck image means total spiritual ruin through abandoning faith once held. It is like a tempest-tossed ship wrecked upon the rocks without light from a lighthouse. Even a small defect can endanger and ruin the whole, for a very small leak will sink a ship and one defective link makes a chain worthless. That guiding lighthouse work belongs to pupils and teachers who prepare their hearts for the one great purpose and shine as a light set on a candlestick to give light to all in the house, laboring earnestly for the salvation of children under their charge and calling them to present their own hearts to Jesus with short, solid, pointed words and precious hymns that deepen need and zeal, rather than theatrical performances and indistinct singing that give no light. Erecting barriers to separate medical missionary work and those being educated in it from the church, instead of fitting them to work in connection with ministers, and by words and manner creating unbelief, is such a small departure that makes shipwreck.
This world is not the Christian's heaven but merely the fitting-up place, the scene of life-battles, conflicts and sorrows. Faith must therefore keep a firm grasp of the better world where peace, joy and bliss will be enjoyed forever when the warfare is ended. An unwise marriage union can increase the danger of shipwreck, because the two so united look upon matters in a false light and blind each other's eyes to faults, hindering the great work each must do. Holding faith with good courage keeps from shipwreck even in the hardest tug of war among God's people, because Jesus stands at the helm guiding toward future good, and faith held firm does not fail.
Faith Joined With Conscience
Holding faith together with a good conscience is necessary for faithful service, and casting them aside wrecks faith, with Hymenaeus and Alexander standing as examples of men who rejected what was right and were disciplined so they might learn not to blaspheme. A violated conscience is weakened, so constant watchfulness and prayer are needed to avoid spiritual shipwreck, while truth strengthens and fortifies against ruin, and being established in faith and steadfast under trial guards against giving up or being overcome. Rejecting the light God gives brings increasing darkness of mind.
Faith is Christ working within through both belief and practical obedience to God's unalterable law, requiring a conscience taught by God and loyalty to His word, and refusing this position wrecks faith. A sound faith requires pure principles, faithful obedience, and an anchor in heaven's unalterable law, and strength, learning, and influence cannot secure eternal life without these, with the warning applying to breaking God's commandments and the Sabbath, abandoning covenant loyalty, and failing to reveal Christ working within. A good conscience is a safeguard of faith, so that losing it means losing the cooperation of heavenly angels, with God no longer working in the person, who is then inspired by another spirit.
Putting away faith and a good conscience happens step by step, going from one degree of guilt to another in self-confidence through a mind running in a low, defiling, impure channel, with ungirded thoughts and loose imagination where almost everything seen suggests impurity, by free talk and deportment with women, attention and love-making and kissing outside marriage, and by living untrue to marriage vows. Transgressing God's holy law by taking love that belongs to another is putting away faith and a good conscience, leaving life like a shipwrecked vessel, without peace and happiness, honor, respect, or lasting affection while the transgression continues, and without fitness ever again to be trusted in responsibility among God's people unless the sinfulness of the course is seen and turned from. Such a man is not elevated, ennobled and refined, is unfit for the ministry and to claim to be a watchman, and unless converted and cleansed from defilement in the soul temple will fall under temptation and bring reproach upon God's cause.
Refusing God's warnings and the evidence of the Holy Spirit wrecks faith when unbelief is repeatedly chosen and heavenly light is resisted, until continued resistance makes that light appear as darkness and light from heaven is no longer recognized. Apostasy and betrayal of God's cause are more serious than death because they mean loss of eternal life. A person can wreck faith after receiving great light from God, and punishment is proportionate to the light received.
Historic Examples of Shipwreck
Hymenaeus and Alexander departed from the faith of the gospel by rejecting the truth, and their fall involved the vice of licentiousness which was faithfully reproved. They did despite to the Spirit of grace by attributing the wonderful revelations made to Paul to the power of Satan. After they refused correction and gave no token of repentance, Paul followed the instructions of Christ and delivered them unto Satan by excommunication, not from personal feeling but by inspiration of the Spirit of God, so that they might learn not to blaspheme. Having rejected his words they openly apostatized, were filled with hatred against the truth, united with its most bitter opponents, hindered his labors and sought to destroy him, which was warring against Christ himself. Holding to faith and a good conscience is necessary for faithful service, for those who cast these aside make shipwreck of faith, and rejecting the light God gives brings increasing darkness of mind.
Demas's choice of the present world over Christ illustrates abandoning the path of faithfulness, when worldly pursuits and ambitious plans draw Christians away from safe paths. Reliance on self rather than God can end in shipwreck, for a worker who depends on personal strength and wisdom, or on excitement to sustain zeal, is in danger of losing faith, as Moses Hull did. A minister who yields to sinful passions and refuses to turn from temptation is in danger of losing faith in the same way, and without decisive change that ruin is certain. Bro. J's divided mind, unsettled belief, and course of spreading reports and opposing the third angel's message warn that unless he changes course and accepts instruction, he will be left to follow his own judgment and make shipwreck, becoming a warning to those who choose independence from the body. Those who embrace truth need thorough instruction and correction, including guidance to put away idols, fulfill duties, practice systematic benevolence and continue studying, for leaving this work unfinished puts them at risk of falling away. Riley Cooper's lack of settled faith and opposition to God's people would lead him to make shipwreck unless he changed course and united with them.
Believing that Sister Sanborn had special instruction from God, and placing confidence in her discernment, had bound both her and her husband, and without an entire change they would make shipwreck of faith. The danger of casting faith aside was especially real for those who, after following God's guidance, faced disappointed hopes and could not understand the delay or see the way ahead. Renouncing the light they had received, denying the Spirit's power, and drawing back under pressure would lead toward perdition, so they were to hold fast to faith in God and His word, patiently wait, and keep seeking further light. In troublesome times, standing firmly against the claim that Christ's second coming was merely spiritual preserved faith, and yielding to that error would have made shipwreck of it. Making shipwreck means yielding to those who teach the spiritual coming of Christ and spiritualize away literal truth, so holding faith requires standing stiffly even when called stubborn, setting the face as flint and turning neither to the right hand nor to the left. It requires being on guard against insinuating, serpent-like mildness and meekness, and being strengthened on every side with Scripture testimony concerning the literal, personal appearing of the Saviour, holding that Jesus is a lovely person, that the Father is a person with form like Jesus, that Jesus is in the express image of the Father's person, and that the glory of heaven and the throne of David remain real, because the spiritual view burns them up in the fire of spiritualism.
King stood nobly against pressures that led many others to make shipwreck, for he continued to act on what he believed was clear duty despite the influence around him. The verse warns against making shipwreck and calls for holding firmly to God so that faith is not lost, pointing to Paul who kept the faith through his course and looked forward to the crown of righteousness given by the Lord.
Doctrinal Departures From Faith
Making shipwreck is deliberately departing from the faith by giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, listening to sophistries that make present truth of no effect and moving the stones and pillars of its foundation. This departing comes even inside the church and its institutions through loss of confidence in the faith once delivered, confusion over beautiful theories, rejection of the warnings of the Spirit, and a hypnotic influence by which the enemy works through those who depart to lead others astray from Christ. At a crisis all must take position and stand apart from those determined to make this shipwreck, refusing to sell the Lord at any price. They must refuse to listen to sophistries, refuse to give them place in the mind, and not even examine them, because they are Satan's means and stock in trade worked through his agencies to lead others astray, while those who draw near to God will be kept by Him amid the perils of the last days and God will keep what is committed to Him.
The verse applies to apostates who yield up the Bible truth that made Seventh-day Adventists what they are, including the Sabbath, while wrapping themselves in a spurious sanctification according with false theories. They do not add to faith but detract from it, and deep searching of the word would have kept them standing more and still more firmly. Those who gave up the Sabbath did not heed the warning and lost faith despite earnest labor and prayer on their behalf, and the warning is a call to heed Christ's words, obey God's commandments, and build on the rock so as to remain firmly established and unshaken. Receiving spiritualistic ideas is this same shipwreck by giving heed to seducing spirits, and coming close or near to it leaves a lasting wound always felt. Recovery from the shock is hard, tenfold harder for men of influence and responsibility, and the realization of it may cost life.
Turning away from the weight of evidence because a few things remain beyond finite understanding or unanswered leaves a person in unbelief, questioning doubt, and shipwreck. Exalting science above the God of science and lacking a clearly defined position in regard to faith puts a person in great danger and in need of guarding, lest he wander in the mazes of skepticism. Skepticism itself can make shipwreck of faith, so teachers must be certain that what they teach is true and must avoid speculative ideas that could harm students' faith.
When test and trial comes to every soul there will be apostasies, with traitorous, heady, highminded, self-sufficient men turning away from truth and from Christ and making shipwreck of faith. It happens because they did not dig deep and make foundation sure and were not riveted to the Eternal Rock, lacking higher intelligence and deeper spiritual knowledge of what constitutes a disciple and sincere follower of Christ, not living by every word from God nor searching His word deeply, with living principles unwoven into life as the safeguard in trial and temptation. When the Lord's words come through His chosen messengers with plain truth they murmur and think the way is made too strait or too narrow, repeating those thought to be Christ's disciples who were displeased by His words and walked no more with Him, and in times of trial resentment of strict words with an unsure foundation and failure to become firmly rooted in Christ turns them away from Christ.
Loss of conscience leads to loss of faith, shown in false prophets and false teachers who depart from the faith, give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, seduce others through falsehood and misrepresentation, and tear down what God is building up. Abandoning faith through false movements includes believing one is led by God through special revelations and leading others astray, where deception may seem sound at first and then introduce small errors that take root and mislead many. Depending on human assertions rather than God's infallible word which endures forever ends in shipwreck, turning away from truth to betray sacred trusts. Truth implanted in the heart by the Holy Spirit serves as a sure and steadfast anchor, without which preachers, physicians, lawyers, judges, and senators may become corrupt and yield to bribery.
Character Paths to Ruin
Making shipwreck of faith happens when a man in God's service devotes brain, bone and muscle to getting a name, for the enemy enters through desire for self-exaltation and swells him until he becomes useless, and this can befall even an excellent evangelist, a gifted teacher, an attractive writer or a man of eloquent prayer. Trusting in religious profession and laboring to keep up a name brings the same wreck when the little tests God suffers to come try the soul, because the great effort is to maintain reputation as a successful evangelist, gifted preacher, man of prayer, man of faith or man of special devotion. Having a name to live while dead, with works destitute of the love of Jesus, going through the whole round of religious activity for self-glory without Christ woven into all that is said and done, is to make shipwreck of faith. Cherishing selfishness makes shipwreck, for selfishness is lack of Christlike humility, the bane of human happiness and cause of human guilt, and cherishing desires for vanity, pride, supremacy, self-righteousness and self-exaltation is fatal to spirituality. It places the soul where it may become hopelessly deluded and imperils others in the same delusions, breeding disrespect for the church, disregard of the agencies God employs to correct the erring, separation from brethren and from the body, union with worldlings, and submission to a man-made order allied with those wholly opposed to God, and encouraging others in that drawing off does Satan's work.
Ministers who put faith aside make shipwreck by seeking praise, becoming proud through praise and popularity, trusting their own wisdom, thinking popularity will remain whatever course they take, and acting presumptuously as if standing remains whatever they do. Self-sufficiency and self-confidence that trust one's own judgment instead of wisdom from above and resist caution or godly control put those entrusted with sacred responsibilities at risk of shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. Marking out one's own course and managing by one's own wisdom speedily makes shipwreck through avarice, penuriousness, selfishness and false dealing for gain, which blots Christian character and stamps the life record in heaven viewed by angels and the self-denying Redeemer. What brings profit as the world views it proves in heaven's light an immense irreparable loss, for the Lord sees not as man sees. Safety from this wreck is in continually trusting God, taking all cares and burdens to the Burden-bearer, to the heavenly Father who cares for His children and makes grace sufficient in every time of need, ending borrowed care and anxiety and fear of future evil, while taking things into one's own hands brings certain danger and loss.
Men strong in Bible argument are in present danger of shipwreck where much is at stake when self is not crucified, past light is not followed, and heart and judgment are unsanctified, leaving deficiency of character and weakness instead of overcoming. The devil knows their special weaknesses and has told his agents where they can be most easily overcome and at last gained to his cause. The wreck is not necessary, for by taking hold of faith and the grace and power of God while doing all that can be done on their part they can overcome self-confidence, gain victory over peculiar besetments, and wear a crown of glory brilliant with stars. An unbalanced mind that is extremist, relies on its own judgment and is self-sufficient is terribly deceived by Satan without knowing what manner of spirit it is of, and will make shipwreck unless the course is changed. Making amusement the chief aim in life leads to shipwreck of faith, while seeking first God's kingdom and righteousness, with all needful things gathered around it, is the essential aim.
Exalting business above the service and worship of God wrecks faith, and thousands have done this when sacred work is given a mold contrary to its principles, as when men grasp large wages and put energy into business without devotion, piety and godliness interwoven with it. Neglecting devotion, home religion and Scripture while speculation and cares crowd out God's truth puts aside a good conscience and leads away from faith. The self-exalted person full of schemes and plans the Lord has not directed endangers spirituality and gets beyond depth and makes shipwreck, becoming desperate because all do not help draw the load. Escape requires walking humbly with God, giving strict obedience to the commandments, refusing to be an accuser of the brethren, and heeding Christ's prayer that believers may be one as He is one with the Father. Turning from reliance on God to self-devised plans becomes a snare, for ambitious business schemes, unwise investments, borrowed money and trust in one's own judgment counteract God's work. Holding faith means walking humbly and cautiously with God, following His leading and keeping to the work He has given rather than being diverted by personal inventions. Financial prosperity with an unyielding, selfish course that fails to treat others as Christ would places a person in great spiritual danger of shipwreck.
Secret and underhand courtship and marriage wreck souls and cause misery known in full extent only to God, and thousands suffer this ruin, including professed Christians marked by integrity and sensible on every other subject yet making fearful mistakes here through a set determined will that reason cannot change. They become so fascinated with human feelings and impulses that they have no desire to search the Bible and come into close relationship with God, following feelings instead of counsel. Youth in days of peril and corruption sail a dangerous harbor and are in danger of making shipwreck of faith and happiness when they scorn a pilot and feel competent to guide their own bark, not realizing a hidden rock lies ahead. That rock is especially following their own way in courtship and marriage, the most important period of life, being infatuated with the subject and determined to have their own desires and plans while impetuous, headstrong and willful. Safety requires an unerring counselor and infallible guide found in the word of God through diligent study and battling with self to gain victory over a proud unbending will, without which grave mistakes mar their own happiness and that of others both for the present and the future life, driving them from duty and obedience.
Putting away faith and a good conscience in courtship and marriage wrecks the soul, for marriage binds for life and must be weighed with calm reason and unimpassioned judgment, with the Bible as counselor, not with feelings and lovesick sentimentalism as guide. Youth show less intelligence here than on any other subject, refuse to be reasoned with, will not submit to God, and move in secretiveness as if fearful of interference. Satan knows what elements he has to deal with, watches every step, makes suggestions that are followed rather than God's word, and skillfully prepares a finely woven dangerous net often disguised under a covering of light to entrap the young and unwary. On this rock thousands make shipwreck, piercing themselves through with many sorrows and leaving wrecks of humanity everywhere. An unwise marriage union can increase the danger, for two persons united may look upon matters in a false light and blind each other's eyes to faults, hindering the great work each must do, while faith must keep firm grasp of the better world where peace, joy and bliss will be enjoyed forever when warfare in this fitting-up place of battles, conflicts and sorrows is ended.
Yielding to sinful temptation between a man and a woman leads to shipwreck, and others are called to act to save the one in danger from that ruin. The wreck can still be prevented by leaving at once the path where Satan has led, for God still loves the one led astray, Christ has died for him, pardon is given on turning, and power remains to do good pure solid work in connection with God's institutions. Because resolve once broken is weak, safety requires that the two work ever after in different places and never again in the same institution, so temptation may forever end. Shipwreck comes step by step when a good conscience is put away and one goes from one degree of guilt to another in self-confidence, through a mind running in a low defiling impure channel, ungirded thoughts and loose imagination where almost everything suggests impurity, free talk and deportment with women, attention and love-making and kissing outside marriage, and untruth to marriage vows. Such a man is not elevated, ennobled and refined, is unfit for ministry and to claim to be a watchman, and unless converted and cleansed from defilement in the soul temple will fall under temptation and bring reproach upon God's cause. Continuing in moral pollution brings utter shipwreck of body and mind, for youth and children of both sexes practice this soul-and-body-destroying vice, many professed Christians are so benumbed that moral sensibility cannot see it as sin, and man formed in God's image transforms himself into a beast, gross and corrupt. Every Christian must learn to restrain passions and be controlled by principle, or be unworthy of the Christian name.
Persisting in sin, trying to conceal it and abandoning a faithful course endangers total shipwreck, with perdition before those who reject truth, and confessing and forsaking sin is the only hope of mercy and restoration. Faith is made shipwreck when unhappy traits with strong set will are not corrected, through jealousy mistaken for special discernment, suspicion, surmising evil, distrust of almost everything, despondency and doubt where faith and confidence should exist, gloomy foreboding, and a highly sensitive temperament imagining neglect, slight and injury where none exists. Satan takes advantage of natural quickness to see, understand and anticipate and of extreme sensitivity to lead astray, blocking advancement and injuring God's cause to the extent of connection with it, until faith is at last destroyed. Cherished impatience, pride and selfishness can leave a person without wisdom to steer safely, so temptations toss the soul until shipwrecked. Making shipwreck is ruin through yielding to Satan's power and spell, losing clear spiritual discernment, becoming changeable and not perceiving personal peril while taking soul-endangering steps. Avoiding it requires breaking the spell in Jesus' name, seeking the Lord while He may be found, surrendering for Him who gave His life, and renewing covenant with Him with family without delay, for delay is dangerous and happiness is lost without surrender.
Trusting feelings and experiences instead of truth runs aground, for strong feelings, apparent faith, powerful prayers and felt blessings do not prove leading by the Holy Spirit. An unclean unholy spirit foreign to God's Spirit can be mistaken for the Holy Ghost, especially when seemingly good and professedly holy men whose lives are corrupt pray with apparent faith and bring strong influence to bear upon feelings, so blessings felt are cherished as sacred and from God while honest souls are thrown off balance and stumbled. Feeling must not replace the Word or guide one to abandon work when it becomes difficult. Clinging to false earthly-minded ideas ingrained in understanding, faith and character leads to shipwreck that only a new conversion can cure. Faith suffers shipwreck when claimed truth does not sanctify the soul and refine character, but a scheming close selfish spirit seeks advantage to another's disadvantage, with avarice, coarseness, lightness, trifling, earthly talk and a tainted corrupted heart making life an offense to God, perverting professed faith and dishonoring truth until some masterly temptation overcomes.
Remaining spiritually unchanged and letting go of truth makes shipwreck, and conversion by God's power with thorough change of character is needed to keep hold, lest pride and display replace self-denial and the inward life Christ requires and lead others into false paths. Stumbling and wavering through incomplete sacrifice comes from unyielded pride and love for an unbelieving world's approval, receiving truth as condescension to unpopular truth rather than in simplicity, and trying to retain the world's spirit with truth, which cannot be done because Christ accepts only the whole heart and entire affections. Choosing one's own way and rejecting the work of God's servants leads to shipwreck, while faith is preserved through fidelity to God's plan, not self-exaltation or one's own understanding. Being out of harmony with the body of God's people and being led away from them is making shipwreck, for those on that self-deceived path go from Jesus to the enemy's side and all who follow lose faith, and escape requires decided change, coming back to Jesus' side as a learner in His school. Turning from faith and separating under influences fostering doubt and prejudice, instead of joining the body and following Christ's leading, risks deception and shipwreck.
Some make total shipwreck by going back and walking no more with believers, which is the end of those claiming right to handle others' consciences and control minds and talents God has given, who when truth demands death to self and self-denial are displeased because ambitious rule cannot be gratified, exposing true character. Misusing entrusted abilities and positions to oppress God's people, undermine truth and righteousness and deceive others abandons faith and conscience toward complete shipwreck unless reformed, despite God's efforts to save. Compromising truth by silence, evasion or pretense to suit opinions, and playing fast and loose with truth and dissembling to suit others, severs faith. Evading truth from fear of offending and testifying to a lie by word, act or silence wrecks faith, while those closely identified with truth hold it so firmly that not even martyrdom and death can sever them from it, for faithfulness requires speaking and acting truthfully as essential to Christian character.
Dwelling on discouragement, doubt, past hurts and grievances instead of committing ways to God and trusting Him weakens powers, spreads darkness, weighs down others and gives Satan advantage, for speaking doubts remedies nothing. Those who refuse to trust God even in dark times choose darkness, spread unbelief, hinder God's work, and finally give up faith while blaming others though they have destroyed themselves. Doubts, an unconsecrated life, and jesting and joking endanger eternal interests and turn from God toward shipwreck, so the person must rise, break Satan's fetters and turn to Christ. Gossip, vain talk, judging, reckless criticism, distrust, envy and evil suspicions spoken aloud can dull a conscience that first objected and put faith in danger. Unless the heart is softened and purified by feeding on God's word and set in order by self-examination, tears, prayer and humble repentance, the soul grows hard and unreceptive to the Spirit, undermining confidence in others, while following the Spirit's molding is the safeguard.
Murmuring, complaining, fault-finding, moving by impulse, being unreconciled, failing to grow in grace and perfect holiness, and lacking thorough conversion and pure undefiled religion means the foundation proves sliding sand instead of the Rock Christ Jesus, ending in being overcome by Satan with great loss and failure of everlasting life. Escape requires stopping fault-finding, subduing natural feelings, living for God, being elevated in thought and conversation, learning of Jesus who is meek and lowly to obtain rest, humbling the heart before God, and seeking meekness and righteousness to perfect holiness in fear of God. Pursuing a new mistaken theory, rejecting given truth and refusing to be taught may leave a person to follow his own ways into shipwreck. Persisting in evil and rejecting warnings by choosing corrupt company and pleasure over God, neglecting the Sabbath and failing to separate from temptation dims truth's appeal and imperils faith, requiring entire transformation and renewed connection with Heaven. Remaining willfully ignorant of guilt while professing to keep God's commandments yet continually violating them makes shipwreck, for faith must join an honest obedient life, humbling self before God and walking in integrity. Failing to live by holy principles, as a preacher teaching the law's binding claims without practicing them, absorbed in self without daily faith, consecration and dependence, endangers everlasting life.
A minister makes shipwreck by staying in a wrong condition with tongue away from Christ, lacking discernment and converting power, using speech to show how to bury money instead of investing safely in heaven's bank, and unless changed into a different spiritual condition he will let go truth and lose his soul, a poor bargain even to gain the whole world. Abandoning conscience also stumbles others, for Marcus was distressed by professed Christians' lack of principle and Sabbath conscientiousness, and if he lost faith they would bear responsibility, since profession without genuine religious principle is not enough. A person's example and teaching can lead others into doubt and ruin, especially one trusted by many who is led into delusion and turns from God, and this calls for alarm and decisive change. Choosing a course opposed to God's Word through determined defiant unfaithful conduct betrays Christ, truth and cause, not from being treated unjustly, and supporters who fail to uphold God's warnings share the harm. Turning against the testimonies with frivolous questions makes shipwreck by departing from faith and giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, but presenting the facts as they exist and showing evidence of departure can save some from the same ruin. Satan seeks to lead believers to recklessly disregard sanctifying truth that would perfect character and to surrender principles, while safety lies in not surrendering them. Union too strong with the Lord's enemies and Satan's special mediums, without remaining near God to secure angels that excel in strength, puts shipwreck in danger, for encouraging Satan's temptations in the least places one on Satan's battleground where conflict is long and sore before victory in Jesus who conquered him.
Safeguards and Final Restoration
Shipwreck is not necessary, for means have been appointed which, used diligently and prayerfully, enable every vessel to outride tempest and storm and anchor at last in the haven of bliss. No miracle will be worked to save those who cherish evil and practice sin, and no supernatural lifting will raise weak souls out of self into an easier sphere without special effort, special fighting, and crucifixion of self. Those who despise and neglect those appointments and privileges, and who dally on Satan's ground waiting to be lifted, will perish with evildoers like Judas and Satan, suddenly destroyed without remedy.
Avoiding shipwreck calls for resolute firmness in troublous times, setting the face as flint and turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, even when steadfastness is called stubbornness. Faith is wrecked when it is given up or undermined through cherished doubts and unbelief, and safety requires resisting Satan's suggestions, acting with firmness, and relying on God to keep faith steadfast.
Guarding against abandoning faith requires recognizing personal weaknesses and dangers and strengthening weak points of character. Thorough self-knowledge must be obtained, caution and great wisdom cultivated, counsel sought with brethren of experience, rushing on in one's own strength refused, self subdued, God made the strength, and truth left to bear away the victory. That course keeps from error and every false way and turns Satan's devices and fiery darts back upon himself, while self-sufficiency, self-importance, independence, impatience, and lack of humility and forbearance expose one amid last-day perils to be overcome.
Shipwreck comes when wrongs and errors are not taken to heart through lack of self-knowledge, and self-deception is resisted by obeying truth and connecting with Heaven. Worldly, ambitious, unconsecrated ministers and people are unprepared for the work before them and may think themselves right when wrong, led by pleasing self-deception toward ruin. As Peter when sifted shows, lack of self-knowledge leaves professed disciples vulnerable to grievous temptation, yet those who fear God may receive angelic help and through the living Christ conquer darkness, for Jesus died to make escape and now intercedes as one mighty to save.
Keeping the heart with all diligence guards faith, and that keeping means keen, sanctified perception used to discern the signs of the times and not to criticize and condemn one another. Those once firm in truth wreck faith by becoming careless about spiritual welfare and yielding without opposition to well-laid plots, so that youth and older ones are ensnared unless watchfulness is maintained. Neglect to watch and pray in perilous days, neglect to unite with brethren in seeking the Lord, and standing aloof from appointed agencies strengthen one in his own way, in impulses of his own mind, and in refusal of admonition, and families are called to leave cities for more retired localities.
Constant intimate communion with God, with prayer and watchfulness amid universal temptations and tests, keeps from abandoning faith. Without constant guidance and feeding on the Bread of life, one drifts into strange paths, and truth must sanctify the soul and appear in steadfast principles. Faith is strengthened by diligent study comparing Scripture with Scripture under the Spirit's guidance, while neglecting to understand the word endangers faith toward wreck.
The sure foundation that keeps faith in the coming contest with deception is the Word and present truth for the time, rooted and grounded in truth as it is in Jesus, for without that rooting faith will be lost. To be diverted from truth and from waiting for Christ's appearing amid danger and deception is to lose the way spiritually through abandoning faith and a good conscience. Faith must also be lived in corresponding works with firm connection to Christ the source of light and power, lest worldly interests opposed to truth overpower the connection and wreck faith.
Holding faith requires deeper experience gained by sitting at Jesus' feet and learning of Him, for without it high tension in preparing and speaking in public, followed by reaction without peace and righteousness, brings confusion, discord and strife into fellowship, so that staying away is better than bringing such a spirit. Churches that know truth yet do not practice it, fulfill duty, or cooperate earnestly with God risk wreck, and must seek living experience rather than depend on others as a prop. Teachers and pupils prevent wreck like a tempest-tossed ship striking rocks for lack of lighthouse light by having hearts prepared for the one great purpose and shining individually as lights on a candlestick to all in the house. That lighthouse work labors earnestly for children's salvation, calls them to offer their own hearts to Jesus in short solid pointed words, and sings precious hymns deepening need for the Saviour who loved and gave Himself and inspiring new zeal, rather than theatrical performances and indistinct singing that give no light, for teachers shape character toward eternal life or toward wreck, and without Christ continually held up as example students are fascinated by earthly, unprofitable things.
Christ works again and again to keep a man from slipping down the precipice away from vantage ground, grasping his hands as feet slip, giving opportunity after opportunity to stand secure, urging him not to struggle but to hold fast. Rejecting each ray of light leaves him more firmly caught in Satan's snares and power and in greater danger. Satan's devices to bring shipwreck need not prevail, for God will uphold those who entrust themselves to Him and let Jesus carry burdens, and His protection can preserve even from perils coming through one's own choices.
Even after erring there is remedy by repenting and forsaking sins, believing in Jesus the sin-pardoning Saviour whose blood cleanses from all sin, studying His life to be like Him rather than resting in mere theory, being purified as a vessel unto honor, holding love for Jesus whatever others say, serving faithfully so Christ abides and purifies from every stain, and refusing to surrender principles or recklessly disregard sanctifying truth that would perfect character. One who rejected truth and Bible religion, followed sin, and was never wholly on God's side through pride, self-reliance and an unteachable spirit may still recover by stopping sin, humbling self at the cross, and seeking cleansing through Christ. The wreck from unsanctified truth—scheming selfish advantage, avarice, coarseness, lightness, trifling, earthly talk, and tainted heart offending God and perverting faith until some masterly temptation overcomes—is avoided while mercy is heard by confessing sins and neglect with contrition, falling on the Rock broken, diligent repentance, making calling and election sure, wearing Christ's yoke, and living unspotted from the world.
Sowing unbelief and long refusing evidence of the Spirit's operation until heavenly light is unrecognized brings wreck in a short time unless merciful warnings are heeded with zeal and earnest repentance before too late. Failure to cultivate discernment for heavenly things above the common and earthly shows in strong oppressive words and measures toward brethren. Repeatedly choosing unbelief and resisting warnings makes light appear darkness, and forsaking trust for human alliances and self-plans despite deliverance and strengthening leads toward apostasy, shame and ruin.
Harsh, cutting treatment and indifferent lack of compassion, patience and tenderness toward wandering, poor, inexperienced souls already buffeted by Satan can drive them to wreck, and erring ones must instead be cared for with the enduring love of the Great Shepherd for straying sheep. Souls knowing truth wreck faith by getting caught in difficulties, and labor to settle those difficulties may consume all time in vain, so duty is rather to carry the message to those who do not know truth. A tempted, perplexed one who lost valuable spiritual experience by not giving heart and mind wholly to the Lord, and one tempted and in despair whom Satan would convince that faith has failed, has not necessarily wrecked faith, for there is still time to come to Christ as personal Saviour and devote fully to God's work.
Grave nearness to wreck is seen in Waggoner, who could be restored by letting Jesus guide; in Kellogg, repeatedly preserved by his guardian angel yet in grave danger of losing faith when not under God's control but under darkness, later ensnaring others; in Jones, warned and counseled, after confession and reconversion backsliding under Kellogg's influence; in Prescott, held back by grace and confidence in messages through the Spirit of Prophecy when overemphasizing a minor issue threatened to lead many to questioning; and in Edson, whom Willie would do all to help from ruin, with all urged to remain loyal and not desert the battle. Even those with many years of experience and in responsible places, though the Lord remains at the helm to conduct His work, may come very near wreck and remain in danger of grave mistakes. The danger comes by catching hold of some minor matter deemed important and placing great weight on it, giving Satan opportunity to work through that mind upon many minds toward questioning and doubt, and holding back requires God's grace, confidence in messages through the Spirit of Prophecy, and on some questions silence in wisdom and discretion.
Taking as guides people with no connection to God ruins the work in every area handled by those in trust, and safety lies in obeying God and following Christ rather than humans opposing truth and righteousness. Holding fast the faith once delivered and keeping sight of the work for this time forbids erecting barriers to separate medical missionary work and its students from the church or by words and manner creating unbelief in the people's standing, and requires fitting them to work better with ministers, for even a small departure ruins wholly, as a small leak sinks a ship and one defective link makes a chain worthless. Workers in medical missionary work associating closely with unbelievers and enemies of truth will wreck unless decidedly changed, through unrelaxed vigilance in self-examination, freedom from corrupting influences, pure holy conduct, humility, and earnest living and exalting of truth, since careless living and labor humbling the cause ends in loss of faith and salvation with no heedlessness allowed in warfare.
A minister given a message is in serious peril by becoming a religious dyspeptic over health, a peril greater than realized, greatly dishonoring Christ who bought him with precious blood; while serving as Christ's servant he is sustained, but refusing counsel leaves him the sport of temptations. Refusing counsel from self-confidence and pride, without inward strength or firm principles, leads easily into evil and loss of hold on God with exposure to Satan, and standing requires humility, dependence on Christ, and heeding counsel. Giving in to selfishness and refusing to submit the will abandons duties and useful work despite counsel, and lukewarmness without zeal in responsibility endangers faith, so one must be humble and fear God lest he stumble into unbelief.
Wreck is imminent when prayer and devotion are neglected and something is wrong in business life, and holding faith then requires strength from God's hopeful, courageous, believing people, secret and instant prayer, true devotion, and careful searching of business conduct, for work is for eternity with acts and words weighed in the sanctuary by a just God determining every case. Continuing in a wrong course through worldly ambition and one's own judgment leads farther into darkness risking eternal riches, like a vessel striking a hidden rock through self-will, neglect of duty to a mother, and unsoftened heart under professed truth, while one left to direct himself comes to grief unless steady reverence-guided effort manages the course. Laura's danger of losing everything in confusion after being drawn into unjust work against Brother Harper illustrates that collapse, and she was urged to keep marriage vows, prepare for usefulness, and bear her cross.
Wreck means becoming desperate with soul-ruinous moves when Satan on everyone's track turns men from truth to fables, and it is prevented by moving guardedly at every step and by timely words and united efforts of others. The danger is real and requires vigilance against the enemy's efforts to imperil the soul, while safety from self-managed cares lies in continually trusting God and taking all burdens to the Burden-bearer whose grace suffices, ending borrowed anxiety and fear of future evil, for marking one's own course by one's own wisdom for gain through avarice, penuriousness, selfishness and false dealing blots character and the heaven-viewed record into immense irreparable loss. God mercifully sends reproof and warnings to reveal mistaken ideas of His character and keep from self-ruin, and those seeking the immortal crown learn from Christ in Scripture, bear His yoke, become meek and lowly, and let faith, hope and love lead to united service.
Those who abandon faith leave an example warning others against carelessness and love of self and world, for separation from God with indulged appetite and passion leads to sin and death, and those once rejoicing in truth who turn away are left spiritually blank and cheerless without God and hope, showing that mere belief about Christ is not believing in Him and that received light must shine clearly. Even those connected with God's institutions are in great danger, for Satan in disguise attacks those instrumentalities by every means to cripple usefulness, and safety requires not rejecting heaven-sent rays by which alone his devices are discerned, with hourly light to distinguish sacred from common and eternal from temporal. Overcomers avoiding wreck remain pure through stern conflict and tribulation, wash robes white in the Lamb's blood, sing triumph in glory, and suffer with Christ to share His glory. Faith is wrecked when people will not yield to the Holy Spirit to mold and shape the whole experience, endangering eternal life.
Paul's charge to Timothy is to fight the good fight by holding on to trust in God together with a clear conscience. Faith and conscience must be kept together, for throwing away a good conscience wrecks trust and ends in total spiritual ruin. That ruin comes by deliberately turning from truth to false teaching, worldliness, selfish ambition, and impure or dishonest living. Safety is found in steadfast obedience to God's law, watchful prayer, study of Scripture, and humble communion with Christ. Even after failure there remains a way back through confession, repentance, and renewed faith in Christ.
Paul's Charge and Shipwreck
Paul's charge to Timothy, his son in the gospel, was given according to the prophecies that went before on him, that he should war a good warfare by holding faith and a good conscience. Warring that good warfare requires holding faith and a good conscience together, and steadfast faithfulness is the safeguard in spiritual warfare. Putting away a good conscience causes shipwreck concerning faith, for those who cast these aside abandon the faith and become vulnerable to error and false teaching. Hymenaeus and Alexander stand as examples of men who rejected what was right and were disciplined so they might learn not to blaspheme, and rejecting the light God gives brings increasing darkness of mind. Holding to faith and a good conscience is necessary for faithful service, and a violated conscience is weakened so that constant watchfulness and prayer are needed while truth strengthens and fortifies against ruin.
The charge belongs with the commandment's aim of love out of a pure heart and sincere, unfeigned faith. Departing from charity out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned turns aside unto vain jangling and desiring to be teachers of the law without understanding. Christian service itself is that good warfare, carried out by holding fast to faith and a clear conscience. This holding fast must be maintained especially under provocation, by holding fast to the precious, sanctifying truth. Doing so places one in the best of company, with the very highest intelligences beholding the course of action as a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.
The shipwreck image means total spiritual ruin through abandoning faith once held. It is like a tempest-tossed ship wrecked upon the rocks without light from a lighthouse. Even a small defect can endanger and ruin the whole, for a very small leak will sink a ship and one defective link makes a chain worthless. That guiding lighthouse work belongs to pupils and teachers who prepare their hearts for the one great purpose and shine as a light set on a candlestick to give light to all in the house, laboring earnestly for the salvation of children under their charge and calling them to present their own hearts to Jesus with short, solid, pointed words and precious hymns that deepen need and zeal, rather than theatrical performances and indistinct singing that give no light. Erecting barriers to separate medical missionary work and those being educated in it from the church, instead of fitting them to work in connection with ministers, and by words and manner creating unbelief, is such a small departure that makes shipwreck.
This world is not the Christian's heaven but merely the fitting-up place, the scene of life-battles, conflicts and sorrows. Faith must therefore keep a firm grasp of the better world where peace, joy and bliss will be enjoyed forever when the warfare is ended. An unwise marriage union can increase the danger of shipwreck, because the two so united look upon matters in a false light and blind each other's eyes to faults, hindering the great work each must do. Holding faith with good courage keeps from shipwreck even in the hardest tug of war among God's people, because Jesus stands at the helm guiding toward future good, and faith held firm does not fail.
Faith Joined With Conscience
Holding faith together with a good conscience is necessary for faithful service, and casting them aside wrecks faith, with Hymenaeus and Alexander standing as examples of men who rejected what was right and were disciplined so they might learn not to blaspheme. A violated conscience is weakened, so constant watchfulness and prayer are needed to avoid spiritual shipwreck, while truth strengthens and fortifies against ruin, and being established in faith and steadfast under trial guards against giving up or being overcome. Rejecting the light God gives brings increasing darkness of mind.
Faith is Christ working within through both belief and practical obedience to God's unalterable law, requiring a conscience taught by God and loyalty to His word, and refusing this position wrecks faith. A sound faith requires pure principles, faithful obedience, and an anchor in heaven's unalterable law, and strength, learning, and influence cannot secure eternal life without these, with the warning applying to breaking God's commandments and the Sabbath, abandoning covenant loyalty, and failing to reveal Christ working within. A good conscience is a safeguard of faith, so that losing it means losing the cooperation of heavenly angels, with God no longer working in the person, who is then inspired by another spirit.
Putting away faith and a good conscience happens step by step, going from one degree of guilt to another in self-confidence through a mind running in a low, defiling, impure channel, with ungirded thoughts and loose imagination where almost everything seen suggests impurity, by free talk and deportment with women, attention and love-making and kissing outside marriage, and by living untrue to marriage vows. Transgressing God's holy law by taking love that belongs to another is putting away faith and a good conscience, leaving life like a shipwrecked vessel, without peace and happiness, honor, respect, or lasting affection while the transgression continues, and without fitness ever again to be trusted in responsibility among God's people unless the sinfulness of the course is seen and turned from. Such a man is not elevated, ennobled and refined, is unfit for the ministry and to claim to be a watchman, and unless converted and cleansed from defilement in the soul temple will fall under temptation and bring reproach upon God's cause.
Refusing God's warnings and the evidence of the Holy Spirit wrecks faith when unbelief is repeatedly chosen and heavenly light is resisted, until continued resistance makes that light appear as darkness and light from heaven is no longer recognized. Apostasy and betrayal of God's cause are more serious than death because they mean loss of eternal life. A person can wreck faith after receiving great light from God, and punishment is proportionate to the light received.
Historic Examples of Shipwreck
Hymenaeus and Alexander departed from the faith of the gospel by rejecting the truth, and their fall involved the vice of licentiousness which was faithfully reproved. They did despite to the Spirit of grace by attributing the wonderful revelations made to Paul to the power of Satan. After they refused correction and gave no token of repentance, Paul followed the instructions of Christ and delivered them unto Satan by excommunication, not from personal feeling but by inspiration of the Spirit of God, so that they might learn not to blaspheme. Having rejected his words they openly apostatized, were filled with hatred against the truth, united with its most bitter opponents, hindered his labors and sought to destroy him, which was warring against Christ himself. Holding to faith and a good conscience is necessary for faithful service, for those who cast these aside make shipwreck of faith, and rejecting the light God gives brings increasing darkness of mind.
Demas's choice of the present world over Christ illustrates abandoning the path of faithfulness, when worldly pursuits and ambitious plans draw Christians away from safe paths. Reliance on self rather than God can end in shipwreck, for a worker who depends on personal strength and wisdom, or on excitement to sustain zeal, is in danger of losing faith, as Moses Hull did. A minister who yields to sinful passions and refuses to turn from temptation is in danger of losing faith in the same way, and without decisive change that ruin is certain. Bro. J's divided mind, unsettled belief, and course of spreading reports and opposing the third angel's message warn that unless he changes course and accepts instruction, he will be left to follow his own judgment and make shipwreck, becoming a warning to those who choose independence from the body. Those who embrace truth need thorough instruction and correction, including guidance to put away idols, fulfill duties, practice systematic benevolence and continue studying, for leaving this work unfinished puts them at risk of falling away. Riley Cooper's lack of settled faith and opposition to God's people would lead him to make shipwreck unless he changed course and united with them.
Believing that Sister Sanborn had special instruction from God, and placing confidence in her discernment, had bound both her and her husband, and without an entire change they would make shipwreck of faith. The danger of casting faith aside was especially real for those who, after following God's guidance, faced disappointed hopes and could not understand the delay or see the way ahead. Renouncing the light they had received, denying the Spirit's power, and drawing back under pressure would lead toward perdition, so they were to hold fast to faith in God and His word, patiently wait, and keep seeking further light. In troublesome times, standing firmly against the claim that Christ's second coming was merely spiritual preserved faith, and yielding to that error would have made shipwreck of it. Making shipwreck means yielding to those who teach the spiritual coming of Christ and spiritualize away literal truth, so holding faith requires standing stiffly even when called stubborn, setting the face as flint and turning neither to the right hand nor to the left. It requires being on guard against insinuating, serpent-like mildness and meekness, and being strengthened on every side with Scripture testimony concerning the literal, personal appearing of the Saviour, holding that Jesus is a lovely person, that the Father is a person with form like Jesus, that Jesus is in the express image of the Father's person, and that the glory of heaven and the throne of David remain real, because the spiritual view burns them up in the fire of spiritualism.
King stood nobly against pressures that led many others to make shipwreck, for he continued to act on what he believed was clear duty despite the influence around him. The verse warns against making shipwreck and calls for holding firmly to God so that faith is not lost, pointing to Paul who kept the faith through his course and looked forward to the crown of righteousness given by the Lord.
Doctrinal Departures From Faith
Making shipwreck is deliberately departing from the faith by giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, listening to sophistries that make present truth of no effect and moving the stones and pillars of its foundation. This departing comes even inside the church and its institutions through loss of confidence in the faith once delivered, confusion over beautiful theories, rejection of the warnings of the Spirit, and a hypnotic influence by which the enemy works through those who depart to lead others astray from Christ. At a crisis all must take position and stand apart from those determined to make this shipwreck, refusing to sell the Lord at any price. They must refuse to listen to sophistries, refuse to give them place in the mind, and not even examine them, because they are Satan's means and stock in trade worked through his agencies to lead others astray, while those who draw near to God will be kept by Him amid the perils of the last days and God will keep what is committed to Him.
The verse applies to apostates who yield up the Bible truth that made Seventh-day Adventists what they are, including the Sabbath, while wrapping themselves in a spurious sanctification according with false theories. They do not add to faith but detract from it, and deep searching of the word would have kept them standing more and still more firmly. Those who gave up the Sabbath did not heed the warning and lost faith despite earnest labor and prayer on their behalf, and the warning is a call to heed Christ's words, obey God's commandments, and build on the rock so as to remain firmly established and unshaken. Receiving spiritualistic ideas is this same shipwreck by giving heed to seducing spirits, and coming close or near to it leaves a lasting wound always felt. Recovery from the shock is hard, tenfold harder for men of influence and responsibility, and the realization of it may cost life.
Turning away from the weight of evidence because a few things remain beyond finite understanding or unanswered leaves a person in unbelief, questioning doubt, and shipwreck. Exalting science above the God of science and lacking a clearly defined position in regard to faith puts a person in great danger and in need of guarding, lest he wander in the mazes of skepticism. Skepticism itself can make shipwreck of faith, so teachers must be certain that what they teach is true and must avoid speculative ideas that could harm students' faith.
When test and trial comes to every soul there will be apostasies, with traitorous, heady, highminded, self-sufficient men turning away from truth and from Christ and making shipwreck of faith. It happens because they did not dig deep and make foundation sure and were not riveted to the Eternal Rock, lacking higher intelligence and deeper spiritual knowledge of what constitutes a disciple and sincere follower of Christ, not living by every word from God nor searching His word deeply, with living principles unwoven into life as the safeguard in trial and temptation. When the Lord's words come through His chosen messengers with plain truth they murmur and think the way is made too strait or too narrow, repeating those thought to be Christ's disciples who were displeased by His words and walked no more with Him, and in times of trial resentment of strict words with an unsure foundation and failure to become firmly rooted in Christ turns them away from Christ.
Loss of conscience leads to loss of faith, shown in false prophets and false teachers who depart from the faith, give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, seduce others through falsehood and misrepresentation, and tear down what God is building up. Abandoning faith through false movements includes believing one is led by God through special revelations and leading others astray, where deception may seem sound at first and then introduce small errors that take root and mislead many. Depending on human assertions rather than God's infallible word which endures forever ends in shipwreck, turning away from truth to betray sacred trusts. Truth implanted in the heart by the Holy Spirit serves as a sure and steadfast anchor, without which preachers, physicians, lawyers, judges, and senators may become corrupt and yield to bribery.
Character Paths to Ruin
Making shipwreck of faith happens when a man in God's service devotes brain, bone and muscle to getting a name, for the enemy enters through desire for self-exaltation and swells him until he becomes useless, and this can befall even an excellent evangelist, a gifted teacher, an attractive writer or a man of eloquent prayer. Trusting in religious profession and laboring to keep up a name brings the same wreck when the little tests God suffers to come try the soul, because the great effort is to maintain reputation as a successful evangelist, gifted preacher, man of prayer, man of faith or man of special devotion. Having a name to live while dead, with works destitute of the love of Jesus, going through the whole round of religious activity for self-glory without Christ woven into all that is said and done, is to make shipwreck of faith. Cherishing selfishness makes shipwreck, for selfishness is lack of Christlike humility, the bane of human happiness and cause of human guilt, and cherishing desires for vanity, pride, supremacy, self-righteousness and self-exaltation is fatal to spirituality. It places the soul where it may become hopelessly deluded and imperils others in the same delusions, breeding disrespect for the church, disregard of the agencies God employs to correct the erring, separation from brethren and from the body, union with worldlings, and submission to a man-made order allied with those wholly opposed to God, and encouraging others in that drawing off does Satan's work.
Ministers who put faith aside make shipwreck by seeking praise, becoming proud through praise and popularity, trusting their own wisdom, thinking popularity will remain whatever course they take, and acting presumptuously as if standing remains whatever they do. Self-sufficiency and self-confidence that trust one's own judgment instead of wisdom from above and resist caution or godly control put those entrusted with sacred responsibilities at risk of shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. Marking out one's own course and managing by one's own wisdom speedily makes shipwreck through avarice, penuriousness, selfishness and false dealing for gain, which blots Christian character and stamps the life record in heaven viewed by angels and the self-denying Redeemer. What brings profit as the world views it proves in heaven's light an immense irreparable loss, for the Lord sees not as man sees. Safety from this wreck is in continually trusting God, taking all cares and burdens to the Burden-bearer, to the heavenly Father who cares for His children and makes grace sufficient in every time of need, ending borrowed care and anxiety and fear of future evil, while taking things into one's own hands brings certain danger and loss.
Men strong in Bible argument are in present danger of shipwreck where much is at stake when self is not crucified, past light is not followed, and heart and judgment are unsanctified, leaving deficiency of character and weakness instead of overcoming. The devil knows their special weaknesses and has told his agents where they can be most easily overcome and at last gained to his cause. The wreck is not necessary, for by taking hold of faith and the grace and power of God while doing all that can be done on their part they can overcome self-confidence, gain victory over peculiar besetments, and wear a crown of glory brilliant with stars. An unbalanced mind that is extremist, relies on its own judgment and is self-sufficient is terribly deceived by Satan without knowing what manner of spirit it is of, and will make shipwreck unless the course is changed. Making amusement the chief aim in life leads to shipwreck of faith, while seeking first God's kingdom and righteousness, with all needful things gathered around it, is the essential aim.
Exalting business above the service and worship of God wrecks faith, and thousands have done this when sacred work is given a mold contrary to its principles, as when men grasp large wages and put energy into business without devotion, piety and godliness interwoven with it. Neglecting devotion, home religion and Scripture while speculation and cares crowd out God's truth puts aside a good conscience and leads away from faith. The self-exalted person full of schemes and plans the Lord has not directed endangers spirituality and gets beyond depth and makes shipwreck, becoming desperate because all do not help draw the load. Escape requires walking humbly with God, giving strict obedience to the commandments, refusing to be an accuser of the brethren, and heeding Christ's prayer that believers may be one as He is one with the Father. Turning from reliance on God to self-devised plans becomes a snare, for ambitious business schemes, unwise investments, borrowed money and trust in one's own judgment counteract God's work. Holding faith means walking humbly and cautiously with God, following His leading and keeping to the work He has given rather than being diverted by personal inventions. Financial prosperity with an unyielding, selfish course that fails to treat others as Christ would places a person in great spiritual danger of shipwreck.
Secret and underhand courtship and marriage wreck souls and cause misery known in full extent only to God, and thousands suffer this ruin, including professed Christians marked by integrity and sensible on every other subject yet making fearful mistakes here through a set determined will that reason cannot change. They become so fascinated with human feelings and impulses that they have no desire to search the Bible and come into close relationship with God, following feelings instead of counsel. Youth in days of peril and corruption sail a dangerous harbor and are in danger of making shipwreck of faith and happiness when they scorn a pilot and feel competent to guide their own bark, not realizing a hidden rock lies ahead. That rock is especially following their own way in courtship and marriage, the most important period of life, being infatuated with the subject and determined to have their own desires and plans while impetuous, headstrong and willful. Safety requires an unerring counselor and infallible guide found in the word of God through diligent study and battling with self to gain victory over a proud unbending will, without which grave mistakes mar their own happiness and that of others both for the present and the future life, driving them from duty and obedience.
Putting away faith and a good conscience in courtship and marriage wrecks the soul, for marriage binds for life and must be weighed with calm reason and unimpassioned judgment, with the Bible as counselor, not with feelings and lovesick sentimentalism as guide. Youth show less intelligence here than on any other subject, refuse to be reasoned with, will not submit to God, and move in secretiveness as if fearful of interference. Satan knows what elements he has to deal with, watches every step, makes suggestions that are followed rather than God's word, and skillfully prepares a finely woven dangerous net often disguised under a covering of light to entrap the young and unwary. On this rock thousands make shipwreck, piercing themselves through with many sorrows and leaving wrecks of humanity everywhere. An unwise marriage union can increase the danger, for two persons united may look upon matters in a false light and blind each other's eyes to faults, hindering the great work each must do, while faith must keep firm grasp of the better world where peace, joy and bliss will be enjoyed forever when warfare in this fitting-up place of battles, conflicts and sorrows is ended.
Yielding to sinful temptation between a man and a woman leads to shipwreck, and others are called to act to save the one in danger from that ruin. The wreck can still be prevented by leaving at once the path where Satan has led, for God still loves the one led astray, Christ has died for him, pardon is given on turning, and power remains to do good pure solid work in connection with God's institutions. Because resolve once broken is weak, safety requires that the two work ever after in different places and never again in the same institution, so temptation may forever end. Shipwreck comes step by step when a good conscience is put away and one goes from one degree of guilt to another in self-confidence, through a mind running in a low defiling impure channel, ungirded thoughts and loose imagination where almost everything suggests impurity, free talk and deportment with women, attention and love-making and kissing outside marriage, and untruth to marriage vows. Such a man is not elevated, ennobled and refined, is unfit for ministry and to claim to be a watchman, and unless converted and cleansed from defilement in the soul temple will fall under temptation and bring reproach upon God's cause. Continuing in moral pollution brings utter shipwreck of body and mind, for youth and children of both sexes practice this soul-and-body-destroying vice, many professed Christians are so benumbed that moral sensibility cannot see it as sin, and man formed in God's image transforms himself into a beast, gross and corrupt. Every Christian must learn to restrain passions and be controlled by principle, or be unworthy of the Christian name.
Persisting in sin, trying to conceal it and abandoning a faithful course endangers total shipwreck, with perdition before those who reject truth, and confessing and forsaking sin is the only hope of mercy and restoration. Faith is made shipwreck when unhappy traits with strong set will are not corrected, through jealousy mistaken for special discernment, suspicion, surmising evil, distrust of almost everything, despondency and doubt where faith and confidence should exist, gloomy foreboding, and a highly sensitive temperament imagining neglect, slight and injury where none exists. Satan takes advantage of natural quickness to see, understand and anticipate and of extreme sensitivity to lead astray, blocking advancement and injuring God's cause to the extent of connection with it, until faith is at last destroyed. Cherished impatience, pride and selfishness can leave a person without wisdom to steer safely, so temptations toss the soul until shipwrecked. Making shipwreck is ruin through yielding to Satan's power and spell, losing clear spiritual discernment, becoming changeable and not perceiving personal peril while taking soul-endangering steps. Avoiding it requires breaking the spell in Jesus' name, seeking the Lord while He may be found, surrendering for Him who gave His life, and renewing covenant with Him with family without delay, for delay is dangerous and happiness is lost without surrender.
Trusting feelings and experiences instead of truth runs aground, for strong feelings, apparent faith, powerful prayers and felt blessings do not prove leading by the Holy Spirit. An unclean unholy spirit foreign to God's Spirit can be mistaken for the Holy Ghost, especially when seemingly good and professedly holy men whose lives are corrupt pray with apparent faith and bring strong influence to bear upon feelings, so blessings felt are cherished as sacred and from God while honest souls are thrown off balance and stumbled. Feeling must not replace the Word or guide one to abandon work when it becomes difficult. Clinging to false earthly-minded ideas ingrained in understanding, faith and character leads to shipwreck that only a new conversion can cure. Faith suffers shipwreck when claimed truth does not sanctify the soul and refine character, but a scheming close selfish spirit seeks advantage to another's disadvantage, with avarice, coarseness, lightness, trifling, earthly talk and a tainted corrupted heart making life an offense to God, perverting professed faith and dishonoring truth until some masterly temptation overcomes.
Remaining spiritually unchanged and letting go of truth makes shipwreck, and conversion by God's power with thorough change of character is needed to keep hold, lest pride and display replace self-denial and the inward life Christ requires and lead others into false paths. Stumbling and wavering through incomplete sacrifice comes from unyielded pride and love for an unbelieving world's approval, receiving truth as condescension to unpopular truth rather than in simplicity, and trying to retain the world's spirit with truth, which cannot be done because Christ accepts only the whole heart and entire affections. Choosing one's own way and rejecting the work of God's servants leads to shipwreck, while faith is preserved through fidelity to God's plan, not self-exaltation or one's own understanding. Being out of harmony with the body of God's people and being led away from them is making shipwreck, for those on that self-deceived path go from Jesus to the enemy's side and all who follow lose faith, and escape requires decided change, coming back to Jesus' side as a learner in His school. Turning from faith and separating under influences fostering doubt and prejudice, instead of joining the body and following Christ's leading, risks deception and shipwreck.
Some make total shipwreck by going back and walking no more with believers, which is the end of those claiming right to handle others' consciences and control minds and talents God has given, who when truth demands death to self and self-denial are displeased because ambitious rule cannot be gratified, exposing true character. Misusing entrusted abilities and positions to oppress God's people, undermine truth and righteousness and deceive others abandons faith and conscience toward complete shipwreck unless reformed, despite God's efforts to save. Compromising truth by silence, evasion or pretense to suit opinions, and playing fast and loose with truth and dissembling to suit others, severs faith. Evading truth from fear of offending and testifying to a lie by word, act or silence wrecks faith, while those closely identified with truth hold it so firmly that not even martyrdom and death can sever them from it, for faithfulness requires speaking and acting truthfully as essential to Christian character.
Dwelling on discouragement, doubt, past hurts and grievances instead of committing ways to God and trusting Him weakens powers, spreads darkness, weighs down others and gives Satan advantage, for speaking doubts remedies nothing. Those who refuse to trust God even in dark times choose darkness, spread unbelief, hinder God's work, and finally give up faith while blaming others though they have destroyed themselves. Doubts, an unconsecrated life, and jesting and joking endanger eternal interests and turn from God toward shipwreck, so the person must rise, break Satan's fetters and turn to Christ. Gossip, vain talk, judging, reckless criticism, distrust, envy and evil suspicions spoken aloud can dull a conscience that first objected and put faith in danger. Unless the heart is softened and purified by feeding on God's word and set in order by self-examination, tears, prayer and humble repentance, the soul grows hard and unreceptive to the Spirit, undermining confidence in others, while following the Spirit's molding is the safeguard.
Murmuring, complaining, fault-finding, moving by impulse, being unreconciled, failing to grow in grace and perfect holiness, and lacking thorough conversion and pure undefiled religion means the foundation proves sliding sand instead of the Rock Christ Jesus, ending in being overcome by Satan with great loss and failure of everlasting life. Escape requires stopping fault-finding, subduing natural feelings, living for God, being elevated in thought and conversation, learning of Jesus who is meek and lowly to obtain rest, humbling the heart before God, and seeking meekness and righteousness to perfect holiness in fear of God. Pursuing a new mistaken theory, rejecting given truth and refusing to be taught may leave a person to follow his own ways into shipwreck. Persisting in evil and rejecting warnings by choosing corrupt company and pleasure over God, neglecting the Sabbath and failing to separate from temptation dims truth's appeal and imperils faith, requiring entire transformation and renewed connection with Heaven. Remaining willfully ignorant of guilt while professing to keep God's commandments yet continually violating them makes shipwreck, for faith must join an honest obedient life, humbling self before God and walking in integrity. Failing to live by holy principles, as a preacher teaching the law's binding claims without practicing them, absorbed in self without daily faith, consecration and dependence, endangers everlasting life.
A minister makes shipwreck by staying in a wrong condition with tongue away from Christ, lacking discernment and converting power, using speech to show how to bury money instead of investing safely in heaven's bank, and unless changed into a different spiritual condition he will let go truth and lose his soul, a poor bargain even to gain the whole world. Abandoning conscience also stumbles others, for Marcus was distressed by professed Christians' lack of principle and Sabbath conscientiousness, and if he lost faith they would bear responsibility, since profession without genuine religious principle is not enough. A person's example and teaching can lead others into doubt and ruin, especially one trusted by many who is led into delusion and turns from God, and this calls for alarm and decisive change. Choosing a course opposed to God's Word through determined defiant unfaithful conduct betrays Christ, truth and cause, not from being treated unjustly, and supporters who fail to uphold God's warnings share the harm. Turning against the testimonies with frivolous questions makes shipwreck by departing from faith and giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, but presenting the facts as they exist and showing evidence of departure can save some from the same ruin. Satan seeks to lead believers to recklessly disregard sanctifying truth that would perfect character and to surrender principles, while safety lies in not surrendering them. Union too strong with the Lord's enemies and Satan's special mediums, without remaining near God to secure angels that excel in strength, puts shipwreck in danger, for encouraging Satan's temptations in the least places one on Satan's battleground where conflict is long and sore before victory in Jesus who conquered him.
Safeguards and Final Restoration
Shipwreck is not necessary, for means have been appointed which, used diligently and prayerfully, enable every vessel to outride tempest and storm and anchor at last in the haven of bliss. No miracle will be worked to save those who cherish evil and practice sin, and no supernatural lifting will raise weak souls out of self into an easier sphere without special effort, special fighting, and crucifixion of self. Those who despise and neglect those appointments and privileges, and who dally on Satan's ground waiting to be lifted, will perish with evildoers like Judas and Satan, suddenly destroyed without remedy.
Avoiding shipwreck calls for resolute firmness in troublous times, setting the face as flint and turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, even when steadfastness is called stubbornness. Faith is wrecked when it is given up or undermined through cherished doubts and unbelief, and safety requires resisting Satan's suggestions, acting with firmness, and relying on God to keep faith steadfast.
Guarding against abandoning faith requires recognizing personal weaknesses and dangers and strengthening weak points of character. Thorough self-knowledge must be obtained, caution and great wisdom cultivated, counsel sought with brethren of experience, rushing on in one's own strength refused, self subdued, God made the strength, and truth left to bear away the victory. That course keeps from error and every false way and turns Satan's devices and fiery darts back upon himself, while self-sufficiency, self-importance, independence, impatience, and lack of humility and forbearance expose one amid last-day perils to be overcome.
Shipwreck comes when wrongs and errors are not taken to heart through lack of self-knowledge, and self-deception is resisted by obeying truth and connecting with Heaven. Worldly, ambitious, unconsecrated ministers and people are unprepared for the work before them and may think themselves right when wrong, led by pleasing self-deception toward ruin. As Peter when sifted shows, lack of self-knowledge leaves professed disciples vulnerable to grievous temptation, yet those who fear God may receive angelic help and through the living Christ conquer darkness, for Jesus died to make escape and now intercedes as one mighty to save.
Keeping the heart with all diligence guards faith, and that keeping means keen, sanctified perception used to discern the signs of the times and not to criticize and condemn one another. Those once firm in truth wreck faith by becoming careless about spiritual welfare and yielding without opposition to well-laid plots, so that youth and older ones are ensnared unless watchfulness is maintained. Neglect to watch and pray in perilous days, neglect to unite with brethren in seeking the Lord, and standing aloof from appointed agencies strengthen one in his own way, in impulses of his own mind, and in refusal of admonition, and families are called to leave cities for more retired localities.
Constant intimate communion with God, with prayer and watchfulness amid universal temptations and tests, keeps from abandoning faith. Without constant guidance and feeding on the Bread of life, one drifts into strange paths, and truth must sanctify the soul and appear in steadfast principles. Faith is strengthened by diligent study comparing Scripture with Scripture under the Spirit's guidance, while neglecting to understand the word endangers faith toward wreck.
The sure foundation that keeps faith in the coming contest with deception is the Word and present truth for the time, rooted and grounded in truth as it is in Jesus, for without that rooting faith will be lost. To be diverted from truth and from waiting for Christ's appearing amid danger and deception is to lose the way spiritually through abandoning faith and a good conscience. Faith must also be lived in corresponding works with firm connection to Christ the source of light and power, lest worldly interests opposed to truth overpower the connection and wreck faith.
Holding faith requires deeper experience gained by sitting at Jesus' feet and learning of Him, for without it high tension in preparing and speaking in public, followed by reaction without peace and righteousness, brings confusion, discord and strife into fellowship, so that staying away is better than bringing such a spirit. Churches that know truth yet do not practice it, fulfill duty, or cooperate earnestly with God risk wreck, and must seek living experience rather than depend on others as a prop. Teachers and pupils prevent wreck like a tempest-tossed ship striking rocks for lack of lighthouse light by having hearts prepared for the one great purpose and shining individually as lights on a candlestick to all in the house. That lighthouse work labors earnestly for children's salvation, calls them to offer their own hearts to Jesus in short solid pointed words, and sings precious hymns deepening need for the Saviour who loved and gave Himself and inspiring new zeal, rather than theatrical performances and indistinct singing that give no light, for teachers shape character toward eternal life or toward wreck, and without Christ continually held up as example students are fascinated by earthly, unprofitable things.
Christ works again and again to keep a man from slipping down the precipice away from vantage ground, grasping his hands as feet slip, giving opportunity after opportunity to stand secure, urging him not to struggle but to hold fast. Rejecting each ray of light leaves him more firmly caught in Satan's snares and power and in greater danger. Satan's devices to bring shipwreck need not prevail, for God will uphold those who entrust themselves to Him and let Jesus carry burdens, and His protection can preserve even from perils coming through one's own choices.
Even after erring there is remedy by repenting and forsaking sins, believing in Jesus the sin-pardoning Saviour whose blood cleanses from all sin, studying His life to be like Him rather than resting in mere theory, being purified as a vessel unto honor, holding love for Jesus whatever others say, serving faithfully so Christ abides and purifies from every stain, and refusing to surrender principles or recklessly disregard sanctifying truth that would perfect character. One who rejected truth and Bible religion, followed sin, and was never wholly on God's side through pride, self-reliance and an unteachable spirit may still recover by stopping sin, humbling self at the cross, and seeking cleansing through Christ. The wreck from unsanctified truth—scheming selfish advantage, avarice, coarseness, lightness, trifling, earthly talk, and tainted heart offending God and perverting faith until some masterly temptation overcomes—is avoided while mercy is heard by confessing sins and neglect with contrition, falling on the Rock broken, diligent repentance, making calling and election sure, wearing Christ's yoke, and living unspotted from the world.
Sowing unbelief and long refusing evidence of the Spirit's operation until heavenly light is unrecognized brings wreck in a short time unless merciful warnings are heeded with zeal and earnest repentance before too late. Failure to cultivate discernment for heavenly things above the common and earthly shows in strong oppressive words and measures toward brethren. Repeatedly choosing unbelief and resisting warnings makes light appear darkness, and forsaking trust for human alliances and self-plans despite deliverance and strengthening leads toward apostasy, shame and ruin.
Harsh, cutting treatment and indifferent lack of compassion, patience and tenderness toward wandering, poor, inexperienced souls already buffeted by Satan can drive them to wreck, and erring ones must instead be cared for with the enduring love of the Great Shepherd for straying sheep. Souls knowing truth wreck faith by getting caught in difficulties, and labor to settle those difficulties may consume all time in vain, so duty is rather to carry the message to those who do not know truth. A tempted, perplexed one who lost valuable spiritual experience by not giving heart and mind wholly to the Lord, and one tempted and in despair whom Satan would convince that faith has failed, has not necessarily wrecked faith, for there is still time to come to Christ as personal Saviour and devote fully to God's work.
Grave nearness to wreck is seen in Waggoner, who could be restored by letting Jesus guide; in Kellogg, repeatedly preserved by his guardian angel yet in grave danger of losing faith when not under God's control but under darkness, later ensnaring others; in Jones, warned and counseled, after confession and reconversion backsliding under Kellogg's influence; in Prescott, held back by grace and confidence in messages through the Spirit of Prophecy when overemphasizing a minor issue threatened to lead many to questioning; and in Edson, whom Willie would do all to help from ruin, with all urged to remain loyal and not desert the battle. Even those with many years of experience and in responsible places, though the Lord remains at the helm to conduct His work, may come very near wreck and remain in danger of grave mistakes. The danger comes by catching hold of some minor matter deemed important and placing great weight on it, giving Satan opportunity to work through that mind upon many minds toward questioning and doubt, and holding back requires God's grace, confidence in messages through the Spirit of Prophecy, and on some questions silence in wisdom and discretion.
Taking as guides people with no connection to God ruins the work in every area handled by those in trust, and safety lies in obeying God and following Christ rather than humans opposing truth and righteousness. Holding fast the faith once delivered and keeping sight of the work for this time forbids erecting barriers to separate medical missionary work and its students from the church or by words and manner creating unbelief in the people's standing, and requires fitting them to work better with ministers, for even a small departure ruins wholly, as a small leak sinks a ship and one defective link makes a chain worthless. Workers in medical missionary work associating closely with unbelievers and enemies of truth will wreck unless decidedly changed, through unrelaxed vigilance in self-examination, freedom from corrupting influences, pure holy conduct, humility, and earnest living and exalting of truth, since careless living and labor humbling the cause ends in loss of faith and salvation with no heedlessness allowed in warfare.
A minister given a message is in serious peril by becoming a religious dyspeptic over health, a peril greater than realized, greatly dishonoring Christ who bought him with precious blood; while serving as Christ's servant he is sustained, but refusing counsel leaves him the sport of temptations. Refusing counsel from self-confidence and pride, without inward strength or firm principles, leads easily into evil and loss of hold on God with exposure to Satan, and standing requires humility, dependence on Christ, and heeding counsel. Giving in to selfishness and refusing to submit the will abandons duties and useful work despite counsel, and lukewarmness without zeal in responsibility endangers faith, so one must be humble and fear God lest he stumble into unbelief.
Wreck is imminent when prayer and devotion are neglected and something is wrong in business life, and holding faith then requires strength from God's hopeful, courageous, believing people, secret and instant prayer, true devotion, and careful searching of business conduct, for work is for eternity with acts and words weighed in the sanctuary by a just God determining every case. Continuing in a wrong course through worldly ambition and one's own judgment leads farther into darkness risking eternal riches, like a vessel striking a hidden rock through self-will, neglect of duty to a mother, and unsoftened heart under professed truth, while one left to direct himself comes to grief unless steady reverence-guided effort manages the course. Laura's danger of losing everything in confusion after being drawn into unjust work against Brother Harper illustrates that collapse, and she was urged to keep marriage vows, prepare for usefulness, and bear her cross.
Wreck means becoming desperate with soul-ruinous moves when Satan on everyone's track turns men from truth to fables, and it is prevented by moving guardedly at every step and by timely words and united efforts of others. The danger is real and requires vigilance against the enemy's efforts to imperil the soul, while safety from self-managed cares lies in continually trusting God and taking all burdens to the Burden-bearer whose grace suffices, ending borrowed anxiety and fear of future evil, for marking one's own course by one's own wisdom for gain through avarice, penuriousness, selfishness and false dealing blots character and the heaven-viewed record into immense irreparable loss. God mercifully sends reproof and warnings to reveal mistaken ideas of His character and keep from self-ruin, and those seeking the immortal crown learn from Christ in Scripture, bear His yoke, become meek and lowly, and let faith, hope and love lead to united service.
Those who abandon faith leave an example warning others against carelessness and love of self and world, for separation from God with indulged appetite and passion leads to sin and death, and those once rejoicing in truth who turn away are left spiritually blank and cheerless without God and hope, showing that mere belief about Christ is not believing in Him and that received light must shine clearly. Even those connected with God's institutions are in great danger, for Satan in disguise attacks those instrumentalities by every means to cripple usefulness, and safety requires not rejecting heaven-sent rays by which alone his devices are discerned, with hourly light to distinguish sacred from common and eternal from temporal. Overcomers avoiding wreck remain pure through stern conflict and tribulation, wash robes white in the Lamb's blood, sing triumph in glory, and suffer with Christ to share His glory. Faith is wrecked when people will not yield to the Holy Spirit to mold and shape the whole experience, endangering eternal life.