Up The Ship’s Mast

If I lost my balance on the yardarm, I would hang there until I worked my way back to the mast.

Up The Ship’s Mast

When I was a sailor, I spent three and a half years on a huge aircraft carrier, the USS Constellation, as a communications electrician. One day, as we were steaming in the Pacific, the Chief Petty Officer announced that the wind speed/direction transmitter, mounted on the ship’s mast, was not working, and needed to be removed for repair. And then he told me I was the man for the job.

He gave me a safety strap, some penetrating oil and a wrench. Then we went to the top of the bridge and stood looking up at the huge mast. Welded to its sides were steel steps, which the chief told me to climb, up to the yardarm – a horizontal steel projection, at the end of which was a vertical steel projection which held, among other things, the broken transmitter. The purpose of the safety strap, he advised, was so that if I lost my balance on the yardarm, I would hang there until I worked my way back to the mast, to try again. Comforting thought!

After dropping one end of the strap under the horizontal yardarm, then hooking it onto my body belt, I was ready to proceed 10 feet to starboard, to remove the transmitter. I waited until the ship’s “pitch” (forward and aft movement), and “roll” (side-to-side movement), were at their minimum, then carefully but quickly made my move. I performed my mission, but the return trip wasn’t any easier. I was about 150 feet above the water. As I recall the experience now, I still get the jitters. At the time, however, I saw this assignment as my duty to my country, crew, and chief – who stood 40 feet below, giving instructions and encouraging me.

If I had refused the assignment, I would have received, at most, a punishment, and at the least, shame. As it was, when I finished the assignment, I received no special thanks, but was content with my accomplishment and the pride of my superior.

Now, almost 40 years later, I see this experience as an illustration of how a Christian can earn satisfaction and reward from his or her “Chief” (1 Pet. 5:4), the Lord Jesus Christ.

We fear God, because He is our just, holy, sin-hating Creator (Jer. 23:5; Ps. 145:17; Zech. 8:16), who we must one day face (Eccl. 12:13-14). On the other hand, we love God, calling Him “Abba,” or “Daddy” in today’s English (Gal. 4:4-7). He’s the one who will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5-6), who made us and knows us (Ps. 103:13-14). He knows what we are made of – our strengths, weaknesses and sinfulness. Yet we, who truly know Him by faith, rejoice that we are seen in Christ as “the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). He will never assign us a task, like going out on the yardarm, that’s beyond our ability (Phil. 4;13), and will surely reward us for our faithfulness (2 Tim. 4:8).

If you know Him as your Savior, trust Him and obey Him. If you don’t, I urge you to confess your sins (Lk. 13:3), receive Him as your Savior and Friend (1 Tim. 4:10; Lk. 15:2), and receive eternal life (Jn. 3:14-16). He’s calling you now to do so (Rev. 22:17).

Use your Bible to read the verses indicated, and see for yourself what a wonderful relationship the God of heaven desires to have with you.

By Ken Barker