Some Keep on Sinking
Against all the ships of Tarshish, and against all the beautiful craft. And the haughtiness of humanity shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men and women shall be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted on that day. (Isaiah 2:16-17)
I am awed that the Titanic remains such a passionate obsession with so many people. The movie “Titanic” took place over a quarter century ago. Leonardo DiCaprio is no longer that fresh, adolescent-faced kid and Kate Winslet has moved on to other significant roles. What continues to captivate so much that people are willing to pay $250,000.00 to take a dangerous submarine ride just to see the mirky remains of a broken ship?
The movie’s star, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, was the star who humanized an otherwise dreary death for many wealthy people and the crew. Other than the crew, in the belly of the beastly ship, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character was the only one with a ticket who wasn’t rich. Yet, his character was fictional. The few saved were some of the wealthiest, deemed worthy to float on boats to safety. It wasn’t a romantic story.
So why did they sacrifice a quarter of a million dollars and life and limb just to see the wreckage in an uncertified tin can? The ship, Titanic, was proclaimed “unsinkable.” It was considered a human marvel that would change civilization by taming the seas. The ship’s demise is a reminder that the world’s richest and most powerful are not infallible. I believe the ones who died in the submarine loved to flirt with danger, believing that by riding over the downed craft, they were even better than John Jacob Astor IV and the rest of the powerful who succumbed to its depths.
Why would it matter whether we are wealthier, wiser, or more cunning than people who lived over a hundred years ago? Many live their lives asking the wrong questions, which leads to conquering unnecessary challenges. As people of faith, God calls us to ask the challenging questions that define our lives and what is worthy of perhaps sacrificing our lives. Many rich people got on the Titanic, or in that sub, for little more than bragging rights. Our lives are worth far more than a good story for Facebook. Our money, time, and attention should be on the lasting difference we can make, offering others hope through our Triune God. Making a lasting difference for God doesn’t always make the most impressive statement on Facebook, but it does create a remarkable legacy for eternity