Captain’s Log
The
first week
I
am sailing from Manila to Hawaii. It will take me four weeks.
These are my private thoughts, things that I log for myself
only. There are phenomena that I have searched out: the reefs
off the Arabian Peninsula; the stars and constellations of
the Northern Hemisphere; even the southern currents of the
vast Pacific. These things I have studied for my own understanding,
seeking knowledge. Now I am engaged in a deeper matter: those
things pertaining to my life. I am settling a big question
for myself.
Captain’s Log
The
first week
Since I left Panama
in April, I have wrestled with what my lady friend told me:
that we can be perfect. I have always been good. Faithful
and honorable, to my wife and to my men. And most importantly
to myself. But perfection, as that woman said in Manila, I
question that. I have wrestled with my thoughts: my loss of
"The Gull", the desperation and aimlessness, the
past. Now new things invade me, bigger things in some sense.
They are in my mind because of the woman, “my lady friend”
whom I have thought about more since leaving Manila. Her two
statements have tacked themselves on to my memory, as if behind
my eyes. I cannot shake them, though I wish I did not have
them at all. She said, “I have an eternal destiny.”
I quizzed her like a reporter (almost embarrassing myself):
What’s eternity? Where is the proof? Where do you get
the facts of life after death? Am I accountable for the death
of my men? Why did I lose my wife and child? Her reply was
very simple, “Seek the answers in this Book.”
I needed to know more, but
I did not want to go to her church when she invited me. Then
she ended on a different statement, “Without doing
his perfect will, we shall not see God.” And the
way she said it. This is what stays in me from the woman.
Her telling me this has haunted
me. Questions. Two of the hardest statements I have ever faced,
from anyone. I have lived this: To do good, to be faithful.
The honor of being faithful is a man’s life: faithful
in service, faithful to one’s wife, faithful in the
time of trials. I loved my work and men. My wife was everything
to me. And whenever I had to stand alone: I DID. This is my
code.
But what of the Bible? I have
read for hours. It makes sense to me. I am beginning to believe,
because I am reading. There are important junctions of truth.
Why couldn’t God make creation all at once? I would,
if it meant enjoying it. It would be a good act. He is pure.
It is all over the tabernacle in the wilderness: pure gold,
a pure sacrifice, pure oil. Is he so pure that he cannot be
touched? Are “holy” and “pure” his
words?
Yes, as a boy, I went to church;
but to be honest, the dark, early mornings in Ireland were
damp and filled with statues that I had no inkling to like.
They were dead people, some looking up and pious; others locked
in a brutal torture of inner agony. And the priest on Sunday;
I'd see him go out and drink at night. And sometimes he had
too much. He sure wasn't perfect.
And why was there so much fighting
between my two neighbors? Mrs. Flanders on one side, spitting
at Mr. O’Lind. That Mr. O’Lind, waking before
dawn to go to work, and there was Mrs. Flanders – spitting.
Two religions having a fight. Both claiming to serve Christianity.
Well, if that’s Christianity, I decided then and there,
that it is better to tend sheep. And in the town, when I would
go with Mom, there they were – half the town –
arguing.
I read novels, and works that
made sense to me. Of course, Hemmingway’s Old Man
and the Sea. All of Jack London along with Alexandre
Dumas (The Count of Monte Cristo one of the best);
but I hold Cyrano D’Bergerac to be my favorite. Look
at all that he did. The good. For Christian and Roxanne. Self-giving.
Moby Dick? Melville was quite a writer, but his Ahab…
just the opposite of me. College gave me some grounds for
my own destiny: I knew I would captain ships, and honor the
men under me.
I'm going to find out about
this thing called perfection.
My
Log
Second Week
I have begun to
feel life again. I have found some understanding. Maybe a
reference point. I have done a study on the two phrases: “Son
of God” and “Son of Man.” I had been told
that the Muslim clerics and scholars dispute that Jesus never
made himself to be the Son of God. Well, somebody’s
cooking in the wrong galley: "Son of God" is found
in the Bible at least 47 times. Except for one mentioning
in the Book
of Daniel, the
rest of the time it is in the New Testament. I have read the
references, but the most convincing ones are in the Gospel
according to John.
I need a way to love God. I
am beginning to believe on his Son, Jesus Christ. It’s
in Paul’s writings.
I am studying Perfection. I
know that the word “perfect” is in the Bible many
times. Noah was perfect. God told Abram to walk before him
and be perfect. Does "perfect men" mean that he
is a perfect God? What is a fault? What is sin?
The
Book of Hebrews is the most puzzling so far. “Perfect”
is there more than anywhere else in the Bible. Why? And who
is Melchisedec? He is in Genesis. Now in Hebrews. What is
a king and a priest? In Revelation,
it talks of kings and priests.
In the Strong’s concordance that I
purchased in Nassau, I was surprised to note that a form of
the word perfect
is used in the Bible 133 times. It appears in the Old Testament
and the New Testament – 57 times in the New. There must
be something to this if the Lord speaks about it so often.
I wonder what the original Hebrew and Greek words were.
The references I have discovered include
the words complete, completed, entire, without blemish,
without spot, consecrated, finished, fulfilled, whole, sound,
accomplished, undefiled, upright, ready, right, confirmed,
faithful, fixed, ordained, prepared, set, stable, circumspectly,
diligently, exactly, performed, full, sincerely, established,
& restored. The original translations, carried on
into the Authorized King James Bible, state these words as
perfect or
perfection.
From there, curious about current definitions
of the words perfect and perfection, I went to the Webster’s
Dictionary. The meanings I found there reflect the same understanding
as the original Greek and Hebrew references.
My Log
Second Week
What does the Bible
say about perfection?
The first mention of the word perfect
is in Genesis and it goes on from there:
Genesis
6:9
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and
perfect in his generations, and Noah walked
with God. Was Noah perfect in his
generation because he was just and walked with God? I suppose
one could conclude that, but is there more to it?
Genesis
17:1
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared
to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk
before me, and be thou perfect. I
wonder what Abram thought when God spoke that to him, "…
be thou perfect."
Deuteronomy
18:13
Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.
He told that to the Levites. There
were very specific ways to dress and wash and kill the sacrifices.
There were commandments on how to treat your fellow man. The
books of Moses are very detailed and precise and the Levites
were to follow those laws perfectly.
2
Samuel 22:31-33
As for God, his way is perfect; the word
of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust
in him. For who is God, save the Lord? And who is a rock,
save our God? God is my strength and power: and he maketh
my way perfect.
1
Kings 8:61
Let your heart therefore be perfect with
the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his
commandments, as at this day.
Proverbs
2:21
For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect
shall remain in it.
What did Jesus say?
There are three references,
and they make me shake.
Matthew
5:48
Be ye therefore perfect,
even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
How could you be perfect like God
himself?
Matthew
19:21
Jesus said unto him, If thou
wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and
give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:
and come and follow me. Why
would he tell that rich young man that he could be perfect?
John
17:23
I in them, and thou in me, that they
may be made perfect in one; and that the world may
know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou
hast loved me.
Is this truly possible?
In Paul's letters, he
speaks of perfect and perfection many more
times than in the four gospels.
1
Corinthians 13:10
But when that which is perfect is come, then
that which is in part shall be done away. According
to this, perfection is coming. Can I, or anyone, really achieve
this?
Philippians
3:15
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect,
be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded,
God shall reveal even this unto you.
1
Corinthians 2:6
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect:
yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this
world, that come to nought: There
must be some who are perfect.
Colossians
1:28
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every
man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect
in Christ Jesus:
Colossians
4:12
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth
you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye
may stand perfect and complete in all the will of
God.
2
Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect,
be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the
God of love and peace shall be with you. Finally
be perfect. Paul is saying this. The woman said, "Without
doing his perfect will, we shall not see God." This must
be the way to see God. In the Book of Matthew it says, "Blessed
are the pure in heart for they shall see God."
2
Timothy 3:16-17
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works. There
are too many scriptures that state it. I would be a fool to
deny that men cannot be perfect…at least according to
the Bible.
I am really taken
by the book of Hebrews and how many times perfect
and perfection are used there.
Is Hebrews the key to understanding perfection?
Hebrews
7:11
If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood,
(for under it the people received the law,) what further need
was there that another priest should rise after the order
of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Jesus was a priest after the order
of Melchisedec according to Psalms, and I know that he became
the perfect sacrifice. Is he saying that perfection was not
under the law? Why then did he tell Abram and the others to
be perfect?
Hebrews
10:1
For the law having a shadow of good things
to come, and not the very image of the things, can
never with those sacrifices which they offered year
by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
The law could never bring perfection
through those sacrifices. Jesus, however, was the pure sacrifice
without blemish and without sin.
Hebrews
7:19
For the law made nothing perfect, but the
bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh
unto God. Our better hope is Christ.
That is how we draw nigh to God and to perfection.
Hebrews
9:8-11
…the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest,
while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was
a figure for the time then present, in which were offered
both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him
that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the
conscience;…But Christ being come an high priest of
good things to come, by a greater and more perfect
tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say,
not of this building; Jesus is the
way into the holiest place where God dwells.
Hebrews
11:39-40
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,
received not the promise: God having provided some better
thing for us, that they without us should not be made
perfect. All those great
men of faith cannot be perfect without us. So what is this
"better thing" that God provided for us that they
did not have? It has to be the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost
could not come until Jesus laid down his life. That is what
Jesus said.
Hebrews
13:20-21
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our
Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the
blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect
in every good work to do his will, working in you that which
is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom
be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Here
it is. This is what the woman said, "Without doing his
perfect will, we shall not see God."
Hebrews
6:1
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ,
let us go on unto perfection; not laying
again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of
faith toward God,
The hours that I
have spent studying this have left me with only one possible
conclusion – according to the Bible, perfection
is true.
My Log
Third
Week
I have been reading
about Jesus and perfection. One thing he did is he forgave
– even when they crucified him. That's perfection.
I don’t want to struggle
with my conscience: I wish to forgive. It is in my power today.
I love my men. I love my wife and son. I am sorry for my second
wife, and forgive the other captain. I will see them if I
ever get to Norway. Even… even the poor boy that took
"The Gull" down. God, I forgive him. I forgive.
This great man, Jesus, the Son of God and the son of Man (I
am beginning to study on both): he forgave. On that terrible,
bloody cross, he did this.
I forgive you, boy. I forgive
you for starting the fire that took my men to their grave.
I forgive.
My Log
The clouds are white and silver
this morning. It's a clear day. A giant sailfish glided by.
What a creature. Two days ago, I spotted whales; they were
breeching. As if they were laughing and playing. They went
under "Reason" and back. It was the strangest formation
and pod. Whales don’t do that.
As I have sailed, I have thought
about perfection over and over again. I am getting some understanding
on the Bible’s meaning. It is a manual for Perfection.
The Bible is a way to become perfect. I am convinced of that.
I’ve got to read Revelation. I remember the word “perfect”
there.
I have been told, and have believed, that
only Jesus Christ was perfect: no one can be like him, perfect
in all ways. After all, he was born the Son of God, perfect
from the very beginning. Yet, what I am reading in the Bible
refutes this. I have found nowhere that it says Jesus Christ
was born perfect. In fact, I have found otherwise.
Hebrews
2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than
the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with
glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste
death for every man. He became flesh
and blood, the same as us.
Hebrews
2:14
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh
and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the
same; that through death he might destroy him that
had the power of death, that is, the devil; Jesus
destroyed the devil who had the power of death: he overcame
the devil and sin.
Hebrews
2:17
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made
like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful
and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make
reconciliation for the sins of the people. He
was made just like us in all things.
Hebrews
5:8
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience
by the things which he suffered; If
he were born perfect, why would he have to learn obedience?
Hebrews
5:9
And being made perfect, he became
the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Hebrews
2:10
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by
whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to
make the captain of their salvation perfect
through sufferings. He was
made perfect, not born so. Are there others, if he is the
captain? If anything, I can understand this. Yes, the ship
he captains? Perfection. The Perfect Church. His Body.
I
Peter 4:1
For as much then as Christ hath suffered for us in
the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for
he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from
sin;
I
Peter 2:21-23
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow
his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his
mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; When he
suffered, he threatened not; Jesus
is the example and we are to walk in his steps.
My Log
Fourth
Week
The Final Convincing
I have sailed the world,
have seen things most men only dream of, and have considered
absurd the idea of a man being able to be perfect. However,
the more I have examined it, I have found perfection woven
from the beginning of the Bible to the ending, like the intertwined
threads of canvas in a sail. As I put down my Bible and look
out to sea, it appears a deeper blue than I ever remember
it to be. Things are different.
I am now positive that God
made man to overcome all flesh desires and the sinful nature
he is born with, the Adam nature, just like Jesus had to do.
If Jesus, who was born an imperfect flesh and blood being
as we all are, and who was tempted in everything that all
men are tempted in, learned obedience that he could walk in
this Earth without sin – becoming perfect – I
see no reason why we cannot do the same. To be perfect is
to be without sin, to do whatsoever God commands, to be obedient
in all things. I want to do this!
I am no longer the same man
that started this journey – the man who knew nothing
but the sea and his place in it. God, despite the shortcomings
of my own wasted life, has had the grace to open my eyes to
the truth. That he gave his own Son not just to take away
sin, but also to prove by the life of Jesus Christ that it
is possible to be perfect – without sin – and
to live without seeing death in this present world. By the
power of the Holy Ghost? Is this how it is done? I know. Then
I read Revelations. I am convinced. Jesus speaks to the seven
churches: BE PERFECT.
To be perfect even
as my Father in heaven is perfect.
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