WHO IS THE CAPTAIN OF YOUR SOUL?

ROMANS 1

Adapted from Dave Breese by Pastor Rick Jackson

On June 11, 2001 Timothy McVeigh was executed for the 1995 murder of 168 people in Oklahoma City. Like, Jared Loughner, he was a professing atheist- McVeigh no longer is. McVeigh refused any visits by ministers and chose as his final statement, the words of the 19th century poet William Ernest Henley to express his unrepentant atheism.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

…It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

To some degree, before a lost person trusts Christ or dies in his fallen state, I suppose there is some truth in that. They are, by God’s permission, the captain of their own soul. But what does that mean? How far will that take them? What will their end be?

As is our custom, let us find the answers together in God’s Word. Consider if you will:

I. THE CAPTAIN’S CHOICES

1. He can Choose to Be an Atheist -

but he cannot escape the consequences of his unbelief [Rm. 1:18-32]

2. He can Choose to Not Believe the Bible -

But he cannot choose to not by judged by that very same Word [Mt. 7:24-29, Mk. 12:10]

3. He can Choose to Not take Christ as Saviour -

But he cannot choose his fate if he rejects Christ [John 3:16, 18, 36]

Indeed, a ship’s captain may plot a course, but he cannot control elements beyond his control- rocks, weather, enemy ships, obstructions, etc. Ask Edward Smith- Captain of the Titanic.

II. THE CAPTAIN’S CAPTAIN

What if the captain, seeing the way is treacherous, decides to turn the helm over to a better Captain? A captain who has sailed these seas, conquered the obstructions and the enemies and actually has control over the weather. Where could we find such a One? Ah, look to Jesus- the captain’s Captain.

1. Captain of the Lord’s Host [Joshua 5:14-15]

2. Master of the Seas [Mk. 4:35-41]

3. Captain of Our Salvation [Heb. 2:3-18]

III. THE CAPTAIN’S COMMANDS

Having placed the helm at His control- the wise person would then obey His commands- knowing they were for the good of the vessel. What commands has He given?

1. Occupy [Lk 19:10-13ff]

2. Be Faithful [II Tim. 2:1-5]

3. Keep Watch [Titus 2:11-15]