In 1714, Britain’s Parliament offered the equivalent of $20 million in today’s currency to anyone who could solve the problem of longitude. For centuries, the most beleaguering issue impacting commerce was the inability of seafaring vessels to calculate longitude. Latitude was easy. Measuring longitude was an enigma. Even renowned astronomers like Galileo, Sir Isaac Newton and Edmond Halley were dumfounded.
Without a proper measurement instrument, our life easily becomes
disoriented, unsafe and virtually lost in navigating the issues of life.
Many tried to claim the Parliaments grandiose reward, but it wasn’t until almost 60 years later, that an uneducated man of simple birth by the name of John Harrison constructed a series of clocks that became known as the marine chronometer that forever changed the world.
Not being able to calculate longitude often proved disastrous. As a result once sailors lost sight of land, they were literally lost at sea. Incorrect navigational calculations resulted in missed destinations and prolonged voyages, which often left crews devoid of adequate food and water. The consequences were devastating. The prolonged times at sea without adequate nutrition ravaged crews with disease, debilitating weakness, spontaneous hemorrhaging and even death.
On October 22, 1707, this navigational problem proved horrific for a fleet of British ships. With only 20 miles of the English coast, five British warships became disoriented due to a foggy night. Without the ability to measure longitude, landing became guesswork. Tragically, four of the five ships crashed into unanticipated islands and two thousand sailors lost their lives.
So what does the “problem of longitude” teach us?
There is much wisdom we can learn from people. Yet, wisdom of people has limits. Human wisdom is like latitude. Human wisdom, at best, can only provide partial truth. The Scriptures are like the marine chronometer. The Scriptures pin point where we are. They show whether we are on course and allow us to adjust our direction so that we can reach the right destination.
The apostle Paul knew first-hand the consequences of being physically shipwrecked (Acts 27:27). He knew that without the Scriptures we lose our bearing and leave ourselves exposed to being spiritually shipwrecked. In his second letter to Timothy he wrote:
Every Scripture has been written by the Holy Spirit, the breath of God. It
Will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength
to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness
2 Tim.3:16 TPT
May His Word be the lamp to our feet and the light to our path, lest we easily lose our way.