My husband and I recently watched the Netflix documentary, Titan: The Oceangate Submersible Disaster. I remember when the Titan took its deadly descent two years ago. As the world waited with titanic trepidation to see if its passengers would survive, I begged God to spare their lives, and grieved their tragic deaths.
Before we hit play, I stated aloud, “This was one hundred percent preventable. But was it really, since God allowed it?” I was trapped in the theological tension of God’s sovereignty. Being very familiar with the story of the Titanic, I was shocked by the Titan’s implosion, and in disbelief over another tragedy. As I’ve wrestled with understanding why it happened, I was reminded that we live in a broken world. I don’t think the question is so much, “Why does God allow evil?” as much as it is, “Why do we repeatedly choose it?”
While the submersible’s passengers weren’t sinning by taking a ride, they paid the consequence for one man’s wicked ways. Living in a fallen world means that, often, wickedness is temporarily prevailing. The movie was sad to watch, yet I couldn’t help but notice some spiritual realities present in the Titan tragedy. Here are four spiritual observations I made as I processed the information shared in the documentary:
1. Convictions Count
David Lochridge, who worked for Oceangate, the company that operated the Titan, is a man of conviction. He chose to do what was right early on and continued to do so throughout his time there. His choices greatly cost him, and he lost his job unjustly. His work ethic led to legal threats to keep him silent, and attorney’s fees when he resolved to speak up. He understood that lives were at stake as corners were being cut. His bold, unwavering determination to do what was right, regardless of the cost, spared his life.
Stockton Rush, the CEO of Oceangate, didn’t seem to possess conviction, and it also cost him, but in a very different way. One man had conviction, and though it cost him greatly, it saved his life. One man lacked conviction, and it led to his death. Pride came before destruction and a haughty spirit, before his fatal fall (Proverbs 16:18). God’s way is always best, even when it is costly. While I don’t know the spiritual state of the Oceangate whistleblower, his example encourages me to cling to my convictions without wavering.
2. Hubris is Harmful
The obstinate Oceangate CEO chose hubris, and it took his life and the lives of four others. Hubris begets hard heartedness and sets humans in direct opposition to God (James 4:6). There is hope, though, for those who think too highly of themselves, as seen in the life of King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4). He was humbled, and rather than hardening his heart, by God’s grace, he humbled himself (James 4:10).
Humility is both a virtue and a choice that, in His common grace, God allows people to make. Those who haven’t turned from their sin and placed their hope for salvation in Jesus alone have not been made new by the Holy Spirit. They can still do what is morally right, though they haven’t yet made it their aim to please Him (2 Corinthians 5:9). As Christians, we practice emulating Jesus, who is God (John 1:1), yet didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped (Philippians 2:6). Displays of humility, regardless of the motive, are beautiful because they serve as signposts pointing back to the One who was and is perfectly humble.
3. Memento Mori
“I am not dying, no one’s dying…” is the documentary’s chilling conclusion. These words were spoken by Stockton Rush and played back via an audio recording. While he may not have intended for anyone to die, the lack of understanding about the death rate being 100% for all humans is startling. In a sad twist of irony, he didn’t value life and ended up losing his own. Since sin’s entrance into the world, all people die at some point (Romans 6:23).
Christians throughout history have been known to reflect on the Latin phrase Memento Mori, which means “remember death.” We do well to do just that. Knowing that our days are numbered motivates us to wisely steward our time as an act of worship to the One who created it and us (Psalm 90:12). Understanding that death is the result of sin is a compelling reason to grieve its existence.
It’s also an opportunity for Christians to rejoice as we recall that death doesn’t have the final word because it was spoken by Jesus when He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). One day, we will experience the death of death. Until then, may we live every moment for His glory and trust that when we fail to, God sees Jesus having perfectly done so in our place.
We are sealed by His Spirit, who prompts our repentance when we’ve failed to be wise stewards, and reminds us that even our biggest failures can never separate us from God’s love.
4. God is Good
God is good and remains good, even when circumstances are not good. Circumstances, good or bad, cannot change God’s character (Hebrews 13:8). Because God is good, He can use all things, even tragedies, for his glory. While I don’t know what that will look like in the aftermath of the Titan tragedy, I’m hopeful as I recall his faithfulness as and after the Titanic sank.
Aboard the Titanic was a Scottish preacher named John Harper. As he was freezing to death, he pleaded with anyone who would listen to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. As he shared the gospel message with a man nearby who was also dying, Harper took off his life jacket and gave it to him. That man turned from his sin and placed His hope for a restored relationship with God in Jesus.
He became known as John Harper’s last convert. It amazes me that God uses even death to produce spiritual life. While I don’t know how He is using the Titan tragedy for good, I know that He can, and I’m confident that He will.
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