Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. Daniel 7:2
When I look at the reverse side of a dime, I am reminded of the great sailing vessels that have been produced in our part of the world, and the great heritage of maritime business that is here. But I know very little about sailing ships, personally. I do know, however, that every sailing ship is completely dependent on the winds for getting from one place to another. Without wind, a sailing ship is not going to move. In our text today, Daniel speaks of the winds striving on the face of the sea, as part of his unveiling to us of the history and future of our world. But today, rather than prophecy, I would like to look at the four winds that the Christian faces, and how we ought to respond to them.
The north wind is a blast that the sailor hates. The icy gales freeze the rigging and endanger the sailors. As Christians, we encounter the north wind of grief and tragedy, the bitter blast of adversity and loss. Sailors in a north wind stay close together and bundle up warm as they stick to their tasks . As Christians, we need to do the same, not shirking our duties when the bitter blows of life fall, but seeking the comfort and shelter of God’s people and God’s Word.
The east wind is also dreaded by sailors, because it brings storms and uncertainty, just like the opposition and animosity that the Christian faces from time to time. In the east wind, sailors can do little work, and are often limited to making repairs and presenting damage. Christians are the same when the devil does his worst, leaving us clinging to the truths of God’s Word and fighting to remain faithful.
The south wind is a soothing breeze whose danger lies in its calming and relaxing of all the instincts for survival and progress, and the gentle rocking puts everyone to sleep. South winds for Christians mean everything is calm and quiet, and, like sailors, we experience so much calm that no work gets done and no progress is made.
The west wind is the working wind. Strong and dependable, it drives the sailor to his destination if he maintains his post. To the Christian, the west wind of activity and duty and willingly working together provides the times of Gospel outreach and Assembly revival and edification.
Which way is the wind moving in your experience today? Faithfully remain at your duties as the Lord’s sailor, and you will move surely toward your Lord’s destination. -Jim MacIntosh