Good but useless

I went to the “Blessing of the Fleet” on New Year’s Day in Islamorada. This event is held each year for the local charter and private boats. We all line up outside the channel at the head pins and the Coast Guard leads us single file down the channel and by a bridge where onlookers see all of the boats. You announce the name of your boat and crew over the radio as you pass by the bridge and several pastors located on the bridge offer a blessing for your boat and crew as well as any special prayer requests for the upcoming year.

It is a gala event and most of the boats are decorated to the hilt. Mine had metallic red, silver, and blue banners on the outriggers. My wife and I took several pictures with my new digital camera of all of the boats and several friends of mine as we passed them in our boat. My new camera is the latest thing and is loaded with great features and is considered to be a very good camera. Later when I got home and wanted to review my photos, I discovered that the memory card was missing from the camera. Apparently my oldest son had removed it during Christmas and did not replace it. I had been taking pictures all day with my camera and it was all for naught. This “good” camera was totally useless!

This made me think of some people that I know. They are otherwise good people, but they do not have God in their life. As good as my camera is, unless it can take pictures, then it cannot serve the purpose for which it was created and thus becomes useless and unless it can receive the missing ingredient will be discarded. People who do not serve God’s purpose are in the same boat and unless they receive God in their lives will one day be discarded in spite of their “goodness”. My son will be giving me the missing ingredient for my camera soon, (or else!). I hope that anyone without God in their life will be receiving Him in their life soon.

We were created by God to serve God’s purpose and when we accomplish it, we find peace. No matter how good one might be, we cannot find peace, and the joy and harmony in life that evolves from it without Jesus Christ. Just like a camera that cannot take pictures; we become useless Put the missing ingredient, (Jesus Christ), in your life today and become complete and serve the purpose for which you were created!


Romans 5:1
Therefore having been justified
by faith, we have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ.