“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.”

Isaiah 64:6

Can a person be good and not know Christ?

I was asked this question by someone I love yesterday, and my answer was complicated. It all depends. But instead of entertaining all the possibilities I want to tell you a story. It is the story of a ship…

A long, long time ago the King living on the far edge of the world wanted to send a ship called Wander across the sea to explore. The trip would be long and arduous, but the potential for personal gain and glory would be well worth the cost. So the King invited all brave sailors and stewards, mid-shipmen and experienced officers to join the crew. After selecting the most rough-and-ready men, the ship called Wander prepared to set sail.

The day before the ship planned to leave, the King called the crew together to meet their captain. In eager anticipation out walked the King’s son. He was a handsome man, strong in countenance and carriage. He was said to be firm but fair, the King insisted that his word was to be treated as if he himself was speaking.

The next morning arrived with a golden sun sending yellow rays off the ripples of a welcoming sea. The majority of the seamen saw this as a sign of good tidings and favorable winds. The whole town came out to the dockyard to wave goodbye: friends, family, mothers, wives, and sons stood on the shore sending their love and well wishes, “Come home soon!”

The mainsail was unfurled and the bow was pointed to the far western horizon. The King’s commander set his gaze out upon the vastness of a welcoming sea. All was well.

The first week passed with no consequence. Life on the Wander quickly became routine. Each man did his duty as the ship rode high upon a pleasant highway of blue. Strong tradewinds carried the craft toward the unknown land that waited beyond.

Seven days out the captain awoke to look out upon the color of the sky. It was a blueish grey, impossible to say whether it was a clear sky or covered with a high shelf of cloud. Soon the waters began to roll, tossing and turning the ship and its men. Grey turned swiftly to black, and clouds turned angry. 

Furious squalls lashed from stem to stern. Men fought and wrestled with ropes and sail trying to keep Wander on track. The captain directed the men to hold fast and stay on task. The initial storm turned severe, one day turned to four, as the bone-weary crew tried to sail on.

“We have had enough!” The first-mate could continue no longer. Melancholy cast a spell on the crew. It was decided, the captain must be fed to Neptune. One month out, late, three men crept into the captain’s quarters.”Who goes there?” Demanded the master of the vessel. No answer. “I demand to know, who goes there?”

A crack over the head, the three men bound and gagged the son of the King. Lifting him up to the main deck, the crew in one voice cried, “Throw him in.” With three swings and one heave, the helpless man plunged into the violent sea. “Hooray, break out the rum!” Letting down the sails the men let Wander wander. It was a glorious night.

After a few days, the weather broke. The sun bolted bright through a break in the thinning clouds. The men were just shaking off the crustiness of two debauched nights. Towards noon the next day skies fell calm, the men returned to their duties, and the first-mate took the helm. The crew was content, he was one of their own. He understood them. “No silver spoon ever touched his lips!” They laughed.

“Look over the starboard side, land.” There it was, the other side. A green island jewel jutted large from the surrounding blue. They did it! More rum was spilled, a happy party indeed. After landing Wander safely on the sandy shore, the men finally set foot on dry land after a two-month passage.

The next two months were spent exploring the land. They never saw anything like it: Gold, iron-rock, cherry timber, sapphire and turquoise, spices, ivory, and a thing called corn. Loading Wander was more than easy, there was too much, the people would be thrilled to see their vast treasures.

With all cabins stuffed to the gills, the men headed home. No storm, no strong gales, and no stern captain. “Play the lute and spill the rum, home, home again.” 

The first-mate turned captain charted the stars, “We are one day out! My wife will be waiting, our sons will be wondering. The Wander has done what it has set out to do.” The morning of arrival was grand: The men on board wore their finest array of white, they swabbed the deck, pulled tight the mainsail and stood at attention on the bow. Anticipation mounted.

Looking through the seeing glass faces were lining the docks, all were smiling, some crying, others waving. Oh, what a wonderful day. The captain and crew felt proud, sitting fat with a rich laden boat, the welcome would be great.

As the shipped pulled tight to the dock, and the gangplank was lowered so the men would exit, a loud voice blasted, “Wait, stay on the ship.” The men stood lock still at the sound of the voice. Such a voice! “Where is he?”

“Where is who?” The confused captain responded. “Let me off this ship, you have your treasure and the Wander is in one piece, let us see our family!” 

The King stepped forward, “Where is my son? I want to see him?” Pounding the dock with the bottom of his golden scepter, the whole land surrounding him seemed to shake. 

The first-mate captain stepped forward, and in brash confidence, he said, “He is at the bottom of the sea. Let me pass, I want to see my wife.” The King didn’t budge. The first-mate captain spoke again, “Your son was a joke. I did so much better in his stead.” The whole crew laughed. “Aye, he did.”

The King cried.

———————————————————————

So tell me, dear reader, how do you feel about the first-mate captain? Is he a good man? If you were the King, what would you do next?