Replenishments at Sea (RAS) are standard practice for U.S. Navy ships. They involve refueling, restocking supplies, and exchanging munitions so ships can remain underway instead of docking in a port. The ability to conduct a RAS enables warships to stay on their mission without logistical interruptions.
A RAS is always considered dangerous. It involves a warship steaming alongside an oiler (naval replenishment vessel) at a distance of 160 to 200 feet. Once alongside, probes are extended from the oiler to the receiving vessel while both ships remain steady on an agreed-upon course and speed, with span wires rigged to transfer supplies. A single RAS evolution can take several hours; careful coordination is essential to avoid collisions between the ships.
When two or more ships are on parallel courses in close proximity, the water flowing between them speeds up as it moves through a narrower passage. This reduces pressure on both ships' inboard sides, causing suction between the vessels. The faster the ships move and the closer they are to one another, the stronger the force that brings them together becomes. This phenomenon is known as the Venturi Effect and is derivative of Bernoulli's Principle. This can potentially result in catastrophe; therefore, precise ship handling is crucial to navigating safely alongside an oiler.
I'm no scientist, and I certainly don't comprehend the science behind these effects as well as a trained physicist, but as an Officer of the Deck (OOD) in the world's finest Navy, I often navigated my ships into position to facilitate our replenishments. I remember constantly monitoring the seas and winds while approaching, gradually adjusting our ship's heading to compensate for the environment.
If we were too far from the oiler, we wouldn't be able to hook up the equipment necessary for fuel and stores, and if we were too close, we risked colliding. I have completed numerous RAS operations in the Navy, each presenting new challenges such as heavy rain, fog, high seas, no sunlight, and even amidst opposing forces.
I have discovered that striving to understand the character of God is much like maintaining a steady position alongside an oiler. Even though we may never fully comprehend God's nature, He has equipped us with all we need to stay on course as we navigate life's challenges.
Like environmental factors that could throw a ship asunder, many forces in this world can steer us away from recognizing God's attributes. However, as I learned at sea, even the slightest deviation from our desired course can have disastrous consequences. While we may not fully know Him, understanding God's character is incredibly important, as the stakes are high and eternal.
KING OF THE UNIVERSE
Despite what you might have heard, God is not pure energy, an alien, or even an impersonal force. He is the Creator of All and, therefore, the King of the Universe. You see, God has no beginning and no end. He is beyond time and space. He is the author of our world and created everything - quite literally.
The invisible God is more like a mind behind the universe and less like a tangible being. He is in all things, knows all things, and is the author of all things. Although He certainly has the power to take human form (which we will discuss soon), we must understand that God is the force tuning everything in the cosmos.
THE TRIUNE GOD (THREE IN ONE)
The Bible teaches that God exists as a Trinity, which consists of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three persons are distinct from one another, but together, they make up the entity of God. In other words, they are three but also one because there is only one God. They share the same divine essence and possess identical divine qualities.
GOD THE FATHER
God the Father is the Heavenly Father of all. He was God's first and original persona, and He existed before He created the universe as we know it to be.
GOD THE SON
God's Son, Jesus Christ, is God in the flesh. God had a unique purpose for sending Himself down to earth in human form, which we will get to later, but make no mistake, Jesus is God in the flesh, and as a part of the triune God, Jesus is God the Son.
GOD THE SPIRIT
God sent the Holy Spirit (also referred to as the Holy Ghost) to mankind as a helper to guide humanity as they sought to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ (God the Son). The Holy Spirit is meant to live within us once we acknowledge what God and, by extension, Jesus Christ, has done for us.
Further explanation of what God accomplished with Jesus will be provided shortly.
GOD'S CHARACTER
GOD IS LOVE
Love lies at the heart of God's essence. He is the author of love; therefore, all true love flows from Him. God loves all of us immensely; as a result, humans can also express love for one another.
The Bible teaches us that God's love moves Him to freely and selflessly give Himself to others for their benefit or good. God's love is more than just an attitude or emotion; it is the very nature of God. God is loving because He is benevolent, graceful, merciful, and patient. God embodies love in the purest sense possible.
GOD IS HOLY
God is holy, which means pure and without sin. The term "holy" also signifies being "separated" or "set apart" from humanity. This term has two important meanings when describing God's character.
Firstly, it means that God resides above all creation and is uniquely distinct from anything on this earth or in the universe He created. In other words, God alone is God—separate, incomparable, and transcendent.
Secondly, God's holiness means that He is above and separated from the moral corruption of His creation, humanity. Therefore, God cannot sin and cannot be accepting of sin.
GOD IS RIGHTEOUS
God is always committed to the highest moral standards. The Bible tells us that God always acts in ways that are perfectly consistent with His loving and holy character. In simple terms, He is perfect, as are His works, decrees, and judgments. He will always do what is right.
God's perfect righteousness describes both His character and His relationship to humanity. It can be challenging to understand how God reveals His Will, but the truth is that He does so through His Word (the Bible), His Creation, and humanity's consciences. Thus, He will judge everyone according to the standard that is revealed to them.
There will come a day when God will judge every person according to His strict standards of justice and fairness, rewarding good and punishing evil. Despite what we might sometimes believe, it is critical to understand that God's judgment of mankind is not unwarranted or needlessly cruel. Instead, it is a consequence of His righteous character and is necessary within His regime.
GOD IS GOOD
If God does not judge evil, He cannot be loving, righteous, or just; thus, a creation where evil is not restrained or judged adequately would be doomed to collapse altogether.
You see, God almighty is so good, loving, and holy that He must be separated from all things evil, unloving, and unholy. This leads us to the issues set forth by mankind. To truly understand God's character as it relates to humans, we must understand the part we play in God's fallen world.
HUMANITY'S CHARACTER
When the first humans were created in God's image, the world was truly good for a time. However, we have since fallen into spiritual decay because the first man and woman sinned harshly against God, creating a divide between us and Him.
HUMANITY'S CORRUPTION
Humanity's initial disposition was noble before the first man and woman sinned. Our world, which was initially good, became corrupt because we trusted ourselves rather than God's wisdom. God loves and desires to be with us, but He understands that true love requires a choice. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil served as a way for God to give humans the choice to love or reject Him in the Garden of Eden.
God did not create us as "moist robots" to control and command us to love Him. Instead, He allows us the freedom to choose love for Him, even if we misuse our free will by sinning against Him. Adam and Eve's decision to trust in themselves and disobey God by eating from the forbidden tree betrayed this love. Our world then fell and submitted to sin.
In essence, we, as humans, have separated ourselves from God by choosing to decide for ourselves what is "good or evil" rather than trusting in God as the authority for moral correctness in our lives.
A GUILTY PEOPLE
The corruption of mankind led to the introduction of sin into the world, affecting all of us. As a result of the choices made by the first humans, we are destined to be born into a state of brokenness, and this shared corruption is passed down from generation to generation.
The Bible teaches us that this inherent corruption causes humans to act in ways that go against the high moral standards established by a loving, holy, and righteous God. We are all sinners by nature and must stand guilty before Him.
THE GREAT DILEMMA
Each of us is held accountable before the Creator of the Universe and will face judgment for our sins. If you believe that you are "basically" good, think again. In God's Kingdom, anyone who sins is fundamentally evil and, therefore, deserving of death and separation from God. This is not due to God being cruel but because He is so good and righteous that He must justly punish those who commit sinful acts.
We did not create this world; God did, and His laws supersede everything. He reserves the right to judge. Our only hope is to acknowledge that we are sinful and broken people, deserving of death and judgment from a perfect, holy, and righteous authority. We must repent by thoroughly reviewing our actions with contrition, recognizing our sinful nature, and committing to improvement. Even then, we are still fractured and burdened by the problem of sin.
If God were evil, He would offer no solution to this harsh truth. This brings us to the unavoidable question: "How can God remain just while serving as the justifier for sinners whom He loves dearly?"
THE COSTLINESS OF SIN
God's justice requires Him to take evil seriously because our wicked deeds have significant consequences. The entire Old Testament sacrificial system was created to show humans that sin is costly and destructive, defacing the good things that God delights in.
Even those who do not believe in God's existence still have a sense of right and wrong. This means that morality holds meaning for all of us as human beings. Otherwise, we would not strive so hard for justice in a world that is (very clearly) morally corrupt. God is dedicated to bringing about justice but has chosen to do so in a way that can save us from the punishment of death and being separated from His Kingdom.
We will unpack this soon enough, but I want to address a critical question about God's mysterious nature. One that has plagued mankind for centuries.
THE MYSTERY OF GOD
So far, we have established that God is loving, holy, righteous, and good. However, I understand that for some people, this may seem like nothing more than a myth or legend, especially in today's complicated world, making it difficult to believe.
WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SUFFERING & EVIL IN THE WORLD?
The ultimate answer to this question is: I do not know. I don't know why God does what He does because knowing such a thing would require that I truly know God, which is different from knowing something about God.
I don't understand why God allows terminal illness to afflict children or why cancer strikes those who seem to lead selfless lives. I don't know why devoted, God-fearing couples lose their child in the final weeks of pregnancy or why natural disasters cause such devastation and death, especially among malnourished children in poor countries. I don't know why some women are forced to bear children resulting from rape, and I certainly don't know why wars continue to rage on in the world or why people like me have to deploy away from family for months on end.
As I have said before, I do know that we live in a fallen world. However, I recognize that this answer might not be enough for you, so I will offer two statements of truth.
TRUTH #1: GOD HAS A PLAN
We often hear the saying, "It's all a part of God's plan," or "Don't worry, because God has a plan." Yes, God has a plan because He is the cosmos' powerful, unique, all-knowing tuner. However, that ultimate plan does not necessarily revolve around you or me. Quite frankly, compared to God, we are like ants.
Despite our comparative insignificance, God loves us deeply and has guided mankind since the creation of the earth and stars. It is because He loves us that we are significant. He desires justice against evil and has never broken His promises to humanity despite mankind repeatedly breaking our promises to Him.
In the book of Genesis, the story of Joseph and his brothers selling him into slavery due to jealousy of their father's love for him depicts a cruel and unfair act. However, Joseph's faith in God never wavered. God's plan unfolded over many years as Joseph faced numerous hardships, one after the other. Ultimately, God positioned Joseph to fulfill His plan for him and his family. Joseph rose to power in Egypt, ultimately saving countless lives from famine and benefiting his own people, a people God chose to inhabit the promised land of Israel.
We can never know the extent of God's plan, but we must recognize that He has a plan, nonetheless. God's timing is not the same as ours. The average lifespan of a person in Western civilization is still less than one hundred years, which is tiny compared to God's infinite nature.
I have observed how modern medical technology has advanced, often stemming from individuals affected by the loss of loved ones due to illnesses, which has improved the chances of survival for future patients. Additionally, I have witnessed the compassionate response of people reaching out to help impoverished nations through mission trips and humanitarian aid provided by the military. I've seen individuals who were conceived through rape grow up to lead incredible lives and become forces of good in the world. Furthermore, I have witnessed beautiful children who were denied love from their biological families being adopted by loving parents who were unable to conceive a child of their own.
God has a plan, and although it may not be the same as our plan, He has shown that he can take any evil or suffering and make it work for good.
TRUTH #2: GOD ALLOWS FREE WILL
God gives us free will because true love involves choice. He didn't create mankind to be worshipped but to have a relationship with us. Just as a parent desires to be closer to their child, God wants to know and be near us despite the pain we've caused Him. When free will is used to love God and seek holy righteousness, it leads to goodness and flourishing. However, the choice to turn away from God always remains.
Evil exists because God allows us the choice to follow His model for moral goodness or define it for ourselves. God had a plan to use the evil actions of Joseph's brothers for ultimate good, but He didn't control Joseph to force specific actions or outcomes. God allowed Joseph the choice to follow or forsake Him, just as He allows all of us to make that choice in life. Joseph ultimately chose to trust in God's character.
Choosing to follow God does not mean that our lives will be easier. Quite the opposite is more often the case. But part of having unyielding faith in the Creator of All is trusting in His ultimate design and will. Whether we will live to witness the resulting good from any pre-existing evil is entirely up to God. It is a hard truth to swallow, but it is the truth nonetheless.
THE PROBLEM OF PAIN
I understand that some of you reading this may still not be satisfied. In the story of Joseph, things ultimately worked out for him despite the Israelites eventually becoming slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt many years later. In this case, good seemingly became evil, but that was hardly the end of the story.
Yes, God has a plan and has gifted us with free will, but to some, He may seem to be "sleeping on the job" of caring for the world.
The answer is simple: He has already done something.
GOD'S ANSWER TO SIN, SUFFERING & EVIL: JESUS CHRIST
Although God despises evil, He was so full of love for us that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to be a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus was born from a virgin woman because he had to be a different kind of human, free from sin (with God as His true Father). He lived among humans as a perfect man, teaching with love and truth. He gathered disciples who would later spread the message of His role as the Messiah.
God became flesh so that He could be sent down to earth and suffer as a man in the form of Jesus and take humanity's evil upon Himself as our representative substitute. God arranged the world in such a way so that He could step in as the judge to take the sinner's place.
You could not write a more tragic story if you tried. Many historians consider crucifixion upon the cross to be the cruelest method of torture ever devised. Not only did Jesus endure crucifixion, but he was beaten, scourged, torn, broken, mocked, and betrayed by His friends. He was entirely innocent, and everyone knew it.
Jesus willingly gave his life because of His love for mankind, a love that His Heavenly Father shares. The physical suffering and death that Jesus endured on the cross were necessary because Christ suffered a wrath reserved for sinners like you, me, and the rest of humanity. God's justice demanded satisfaction for our sins, and Jesus paid the price in full.
The only person born without sin had to be punished in the way only sinners deserve. Jesus suffered our curse, was forsaken by God, and endured the harsh wrath of the King of the Universe despite being the most uniquely perfect person in all of human history.
God hates sin and thus hates evil. However, God's anger is not some irrational, selfish, or uncontrollable emotion. Instead, it is a consequence of His distinct holiness, righteousness, and love for all things good. Jesus lovingly and willingly stepped in, took the cup of God's wrath, and drank from it every drop, satisfying God's justice.
THE RESURRECTION
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a foundational belief in Christianity. According to the Bible, Jesus died for our sins and then rose from the dead on the third day. His Resurrection is a sign that He is the true Son of God and that God accepted His sacrifice for the sins of humanity.
This event distinguishes Christianity from other religions, as it is centered on the person of Jesus Christ and his victory over death rather than just a set of rules or philosophical beliefs.
THE RESULT OF GOD'S MERCY: ETERNAL LIFE
By satisfying God's demands for justice, Jesus made pardon and justification available through faith in Him. All those who believe in what Christ did for humanity will not perish but have eternal life.
By acknowledging that God sent his only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross, we can believe in God's goodness and mercy and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out, enabling us to repent and be redeemed.
We are all flawed sinners who need a savior, and Jesus fulfills that need. We were born incomplete, and whenever we turn away from God, destruction follows. Jesus, through God's mercy, wisdom, and grace, paid the price of sin in full.
Belief in Christ Jesus and subsequent transformation by the Holy Spirit bring us salvation by granting access to the Kingdom of Heaven.
THE GREAT EXCHANGE
Through faith in Christ, we are united with Jesus in His death, allowing the open ledger of our guilty record to be paid for at the cross. Now, God can treat us like we lived Christ's perfect life. This is what Christians refer to as the "Great Exchange."
WHAT LIES BEYOND
What God is offering for those who believe and follow Jesus is far greater than anything we could endure here on earth. The Kingdom of Heaven that God wants so badly for us to be a part of is a paradise utterly devoid of pain, illness, war, prejudice, and darkness. If we can imagine that such a place exists, then suffering (often of our own making) here on earth for a few mere decades is nothing compared to an eternity of paradise, wouldn't you agree?
And as for those children who die in the womb or of natural disasters and illnesses outside of their control, as I have said before, God's righteousness means that He always does what is right. It isn't for me to say what God will and won't do, but we need to know that God will always do the right thing because He is the author of goodness.
STEADY COURSE & SPEED
Before any RAS operation in the Navy, we thoroughly brief every detail to ensure the success of our operation and establish a course for both our ship and the oiler to follow while navigating closely alongside each other. This course is briefed as a constant heading, but the unpredictable nature of the ocean and winds means we cannot simply "set and forget" a steady course and speed for the autopilot to follow. We must rely on our instincts to adjust heading by hand as necessary.
The best heading to steer is one that prevents the ship from veering too close or too far from the oiler, necessitating continual minor adjustments. Although the ship's mean line of advance is generally straight, the courses taken to maintain this line frequently change. It can sometimes last for hours during challenging situations, often with little rest for all crew members, including those piloting the ship.
Staying on the path that leads directly to the one true God in our lives is even more challenging than steering a warship during replenishment at sea. We are consistently altering course in life, but God is the constant line that we ought to remain fixed upon, and He tells us through His Word and the experiences in our lives that there are no easy trips, but there is a right one.
Accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior and acknowledging Him as the sacrifice for our sins is the most challenging thing we will ever do. It means letting go of our old sinful nature and finding a new identity in Christ. By doing this, we welcome the Holy Spirit into our hearts to transform us, allowing us to represent Christ in a broken world. All of this is a gift from God, and putting our trust in God's character will make our paths straight, no matter what challenges we face.
