War games are a necessary part of any military, creating situations to which the military might be called upon to respond and giving the soldiers an opportunity to practice and hone their skills. Such was the case on this day in 2000.
The Russian nuclear submarine, Kursk, was scheduled to meet up with the Russian military in the Barents Sea near the Arctic Circle. “Kursk was 500 feet long and weighed 24,000 tons. It had two nuclear reactors and could reach speeds of 28 knots. It was the largest attack submarine in the world, approximately three times the size of the largest subs in the United States Navy.”1
Planes, ships, and submarines were participating in this practice session. At 11:29 a.m., Kursk was to fire a practice torpedo. Before it could, two separate explosions occurred in the front hull of the sub. The sub’s rapid descent to the bottom of sea took 118 crew members to their death. To this day, the cause of the explosions is unknown.
I have been on submarines at museums. They were deactivated and on land. Still, I felt incredibly claustrophobic in the narrow corridors and in the various rooms and compartments. I cannot imagine being 2,000 feet deep in water with nearly 900 psi of pressure on the hull.
And I’ve never wanted to die by drowning. I’ve been told that it is one of the most peaceful ways to die. Who said?!? Give me the name, address, and phone number of the person who says, “I died by drowning and it was a very tranquil, peaceful experience.” I want to talk to that person.
As I read the article about the events on August 12, 2000, I couldn’t help but wonder how many died by the explosion and how many drowned as water rushed into the sub. How many of those Russians knew Jesus as their Savior? Their lives ended very suddenly on this day and they entered eternity somewhere.
There are many maritime deaths that have taken place through the centuries. But one event eclipses them all. The story is told in Genesis.
“And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. (17) And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. (18) And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. (19) And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. (20) Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. (21) And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: (22) All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. (23) And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. (24) And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.” (Genesis 7:16-24)
Why would God have acted so harshly? Genesis 6:5-7 gives the answer. “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (6) And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. (7) And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.”
Sin and wickedness is that serious. It is an affront to the holiness of our Creator. There came a day when grace ran out except for Noah and his family and the rest of humanity was destroyed.
The rainbow we see after a thunderstorm was placed in the sky by God to remind us that He would never destroy the earth again by a flood. Humanity would not die by drowning. However, God is still going to destroy all things.
2 Peter 3:10-13 tells us, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (12) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (13) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
While this is going on, the unsaved of humanity will be perpetually, eternally drowning in the Lake of Fire. As you read these final verses, remember that those who are saved can die by drowning or anything else but we will only die once. Without Jesus, there is the second death that never ends.
If you must drown, make sure it only happens once!
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (11) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:10-15)
1https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/august-12/russian-sub-sinks-with-118-onboard
Images are taken from https://pixabay.com/, https://www.pexels.com/, or https://unsplash.com/images or created in Windows Copilot. According to the websites, they are Royalty Free and free to be used for our purposes.
