On March 1, a U.S.-bound cargo ship sailing from Germany sank in the Atlantic Ocean. Unlike the typical cargo ship, the Felicity Ace carried about 4,000 automobiles. The vehicles had been manufactured by Volkswagen Group and some of its sub-brands.
What Is True Value?
Among the thousands of VW, Audi, Porsche and Bentley vehicles aboard the Felicity Ace were 85 new Lamborghinis. If you’re not familiar with the brand, Lamborghini is part of Volkswagen’s premium group. The brand is known for its raging bull logo and the distinct designs of its ultra-expensive, ultra-exclusive sports cars.
Lamborghini produces three vehicles. At the top of its model range is the Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae, a special edition worth considerably more than the base model’s $498,258 price. The 15 copies aboard the doomed cargo ship were at the end of their production cycle. No more would ever be produced.
Then the Felicity Ace sank. Fifteen priceless pieces of automotive art were lost forever.
“No problem,” Lamborghini said. The brand’s CEO dusted off the blueprints and restarted the assembly line so the lost supercars could be replaced.
Even though the price and limited production run of the original models suggests they are special, their actual value is relative to the manufacturer’s ability to replace them. (Not sure about you, but knowing the manufacturer can produce another model exactly like mine would make me think twice before handing over half a million dollars for a “special edition.”)
People Can’t Be Replaced
If you have ever lost a loved one, you know people cannot simply be replaced like cars. Every single person is a special edition. When someone dies, they cannot be remanufactured to live another lifetime on Earth. We will never see them again until eternity. Their legacy is the only memory they leave behind.
This is why the death of Jesus was such an earth-shaking event. He was the exact image of God, the original God in human form. He was the only One in human history of whom God said, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” His miracles and teaching led followers to believe He was the long-awaited Messiah who would save them from their enemies.
But now the show was over. He was gone — forever. He would never live again. All their hopes and dreams were buried and sealed in His grave.
Jesus Wasn’t Replaced, But Resurrected
Two days passed. The excitement surrounding Jesus’ public execution had begun to fade. To His followers, it seemed He was nothing more than a shipwrecked Savior. This ship and the fate of their faith were lost forever at sea.
But on the third day, God raised Jesus from the dead. The cold, sealed tomb which held His body was empty. The stone which guarded the entrance had been rolled away. Jesus was alive!
Suddenly the tables turned. The faithful followers who had been stunned into silence by Jesus’ death now whispered with excitement about His Resurrection. The ship bearing the cargo of their eternal hopes had emerged from the depths of death unharmed. Their hope lived again! This news changed everything.
Need to Make a Cargo Transfer?
The Resurrection of Jesus can change everything in your life as well. Your hope for the future, your fear and anxiety in the present, and your guilt from the past are like the cargo on the Felicity Ace.
Have you placed your cargo on a sinking ship? Trust in yourself, and both you and your cargo will be doomed. Trust in the wisdom of others, and you will face a similar fate. But when you trust in Jesus, you and your cargo will be completely safe. It is not too late to make a cargo transfer. Won’t you commit the safekeeping of your life and its cares to Him today? Not even death itself could sink Him. He is more than able to carry you.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for dying on the cross to pay for my sins. Thank You for your resurrection from the dead. Please help me to trust You for the safety of my hopes and dreams. I commit my fears about the present, my guilt about the past, and my hope for the future to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Article by Cam Edwards
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