“Lash and Stow”

Endurance under sail, Antarctic Ocean, c. 1915 Paget colour photograph by Frank Hurley

(The “I Am” Sayings)

In August 1914, he set sail for his third trip to the South Pole. Shackleton departed from London with 27 men (and their dogs) aboard his ship, the Endurance. In January 1915, his ship became trapped in sea ice off the coast of Antarctica, and the crew was compelled to vacate the ship, which was eventually crushed. Shackleton and his men were marooned upon four feet of ice covering 8,000-foot-deep water. The explorer and his crew survived some 635 days and nights without suitable rations or shelter, doing so in some of the harshest conditions imaginable. Shackleton knew his men were near the precipice of disaster. He eventually boarded a 22-foot lifeboat with five men and navigated toward the island of South Georgia, so he could return with necessary supplies.

When he returned to rescue the remaining crew members in August of 1916, the men’s disposition was astonishingly rather positive. Not a single man had perished when Shackleton returned to rescue his crew! Even though the 22 men were exhausted, hungry, and admittedly fearful sometimes, they were never ultimately despondent. The attitude was attributed to the extraordinary leadership qualities of Frank Wild, the loyal companion and right-hand man to Shackleton. Every morning, Wild would cheerfully rouse the crew, regardless of the conditions, with the command to “lash up and stow, men; the boss may come today.”

Regardless of the tremendously formidable Antarctic ice, the crew heeded Wild’s command each and every day, anticipating their boss’ return. A primary component for the men’s survival was based upon their confidence that “the boss” (as Shackleton was known) would not abandon them. Wild proclaimed that truth daily to the crewmembers, because he did not want them to forget that “the boss” promised to return and rescue them.

The relevance is obvious for those who know the promise of the Lord for His church. The ultimate “Boss” promised, “I go to prepare a place for you [and] I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3). Even when God’s people encounter overwhelming circumstances—in addition to unexpected changes and difficulties—they need to maintain composure, proclaiming, “lash and stow, for the Boss may come again today.”

The dictionary defines lash as “to fasten or bind tightly” so that nothing is loosened; “stow” means “to pack or store carefully and neatly.” Scripture exhorts the believer to “eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20). Eagerly awaiting the Lord’s return is a remarkable incentive for spiritual vitality. Let us, therefore, pray, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev 22:20), and in the meantime, “lash and stow” so we are ready for His return.

THE FATHER’S HOUSE

(John 14:1-15) On the night in which the specific events leading to His crucifixion would begin, Jesus was “troubled” in soul (12:27) and spirit (13:21). As the supreme Servant, however, Jesus provided comfort and promise to His disciples, who were “troubled” in heart (14:1). The disciples were confused regarding Jesus’ references to His impending death and departure.

In response, Jesus promised to “go and prepare a place” in His “Father’s house” for those who believe in Him, so that where He is, they “may be also” (vv. 1-3). The disciples were not to be troubled but to trust in God, which is related directly to trust in His Son (v. 1). Jesus was telling His disciples to trust in Him the same as they trusted in the Father, since His actions and words are those of God. The way to the place where Jesus would go is through faith in Him (v. 4; cf. 3:14-15).

Jesus is currently preparing the eternal dwelling place, which is likely the New Jerusalem that will descend from heaven to the New Earth, and will be the future and eternal dwelling place of the redeemed (Rev 21:10-27). The departure to prepare the dwelling places is the reason for coming again and receiving believers into His Father’s house. The receiving of the believer is to heaven at the time of the coming in John 14:3, and not the time in which Christ descends to earth with believers at the second coming (Rev 19:11-16).

The Lord God commanded the first man, Adam, “saying, ‘From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die’” (Gen 2:16-17). Adam’s disobedience regarding God’s prohibition resulted in the origin of death. God declared, “For you are dust and to dust you shall return’” (3:19b). Not only would humanity experience physical death but also spiritual death (cf. vv. 8-10, 21, 22-24). Even the “ground” was cursed because of Adam’s sin; therefore, death originated in the natural world at the time of his disobedience (vv. 17-18). As a consequence of the origin of death, the redeemed will experience “a resurrection of life” (John 5:29), whereas those who are “dead in … trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1) will experience “a resurrection of judgment.” The nature of the resurrection body for the redeemed is entirely different than that of those not redeemed by God (1 Cor 15:35-49; Rev 20:5-15).

The blessedness of the resurrection of life is well-attested in Scripture. For instance, David exclaimed, “With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory” (Ps 73:24). Even the book of Job, the oldest biblical writing, references the doctrine of resurrection. Job inquired, “‘If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait until my change comes” (14:14). Job anticipated a change in the condition of his body. He rejoiced that upon death, God would call and he would answer, because the Creator will long for His creation (14:15). Job knew that because his “Redeemer lives,” his “flesh” would “see God” (19:25-27). The reality of resurrection caused Job to express the fainting of his heart. The blessedness of the resurrection of life instilled comfort and peace within Job: “‘For I know that You will bring me to death and to the house of meeting for all living” (30:23). Having been redeemed, Job anticipated receiving a resurrection body.

The comfort and promise of the Lord Jesus Christ is to come again to receive His own into the Father’s house, where He abides presently. The Lord Jesus Christ promised, “I will come again and receive you to Myself,” with no reference to the deliverance of the Jewish remnant, nor to His coming to establish His earthly kingdom reign upon the earth. In John 14:1-3, there is no mention of Messiah judging the nations either, but only His coming for His own. The comfort and promise of John 14:1-3 is being with Jesus Christ in heaven, as the result of His coming again and receiving His own. This will result in instantaneous glorification and resurrection of the body.

Thomas expressed confusion regarding Jesus’ destination and “the way” to it (John 14:5). Jesus’ response is the primary verse of the passage, and one that is memorized early in the believer’s life: “‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (v. 6). The Father’s house is the destination, and Jesus is “the way.” God reconciled the hostile, sinful world to Himself when Christ paid the wages of sin, thereby providing the way to a restored union with Him (2 Cor 5:19). Through the truth (illumination) of who Jesus is and what He taught, and the life (regeneration) that He offers and gives freely, anyone may reach the Father’s house.

To know who Jesus truly is means to know God (John 14:7). Jesus reveals God the Father perfectly (vv. 8-11). He is the exact representation of the Father (cf. 1:18). Jesus would return to the Father, and then His disciples would do “greater works than” Him, in number not kind (14:12). Leading like Jesus is to develop and empower followers whose impact exceeds the previous generation. Greater works would be possible for Jesus’ disciples, because He would accomplish much through a prayerful people who act and ask in His name (vv. 13-14). Believers have access to the power and wisdom of God in prayer.

Jesus referred to the keeping of His commandments as evidence of love for Him (v. 15). Scripture never emphasizes affectionate feelings as more important than doctrine and obedience. The greatest impact of biblical love is obedience to all of God’s Word, the Holy Bible. In the Old Testament, love is inextricably related to covenant and obedience. In the New Testament, love is most frequently related to discipleship and obedience. The standard of biblical love is true doctrine and the application (obedience) of it in the life of a believer.

THE FATHER’S HELPER

(John 14:16-31) Love for Jesus results in obedience to His commands, and requires “another Helper” in His absence (v. 16). Followers of Jesus are not to be motivated by their own impulses, but by the indwelling Holy Spirit who empowers for ministry, service, and witness. The Holy Spirit would be sent on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-11) in response to Christ’s asking. He is “the Spirit of truth” (John 14:17) who bears witness to the truth, in addition to communicating it. He “abides” permanently with the believer, and indwells every Christian to provide assurance of salvation, guidance, and spiritual empowerment.

Even though Jesus would eventually depart the earth, He would make Himself known to His disciples by His post-resurrection appearances (vv. 18-21; 21:1-14), which would be greater evidence of His deity and their permanent union with Him (14:13-14, 20-21, 23-24; 17:21). Judas (not Iscariot) wanted to know how Jesus would “disclose” Himself privately (to the Eleven) but not publicly (v. 22). Jesus would reveal Himself privately in His post-resurrection appearance, and then later publicly at His second coming (20:19; cf. Matt 24:30).

Jesus did not answer the question regarding self-revelation, but instead remained focused upon the importance of loving and obeying Him (John 14:23-24). Jesus encouraged faith with a reminder of peace and truth (vv. 25-31). A peaceful mind and spirit are vital, especially in times of confusion and stress. Be expectant of God’s peace!