Depending on the Tide

I was sitting with a friend on the ferry today as it glided effortlessly along on the Brisbane River. We were discussing the fact that sometimes people are loaded on and off  through the bow entrance and sometimes through the stern.
The young ticket officer overheard our conversation and explained the reason why.
"It all depends on the tide," she said.


 Looking at the river one can hardly see the tide and yet we can feel it's effects. Tides can be very powerful and cause people to drown, boats to be grounded and sand to be washed off beaches, causing houses built on beach sand to collapse.
Knowing what the tide is doing is essential for safety. It is also knowable. There are charts to guide us and warn us of danger. Ferry Captains, Surf Lifesavers, Coast guards and anyone who sails rivers and oceans would be wise to consult these charts and then take the necessary action. It is foolishness and could even be disastrous to ignore these guidelines and safety measures.
All this information got me thinking about other guidelines and instructions that are all around us for our own safety. For example 'Stay behind the yellow barrier lines' on railway stations. 'Wrong way' signs on highways to stop us from entering a highway from the wrong direction. Road rules in general are made to protect us from harming ourselves or others.
Pilots have to be aware of the strength  and direction of the wind. Another thing we cannot see, but we can feel it's effect.
There are also common sense rules that we learnt from parents and teachers. 'Look left, look right and look left again, before crossing a road.' (This is the other way around in right hand drive countries.) 'Walk, don't run through the corridors at school. You may hurt yourself and others if you don't obey.'
'Do to others what you want them to do to you,' I heard a mother once say to her son as she pulled him off the play ground.
Which leads me to the best guide book which I love to read. Yes, you guessed it, the Bible. There I read that there are powerful unseen forces that are constantly trying to confuse us, hurt us and fill us with doubt and fear. But I also read that God is more powerful than the evil forces. He loves us unconditionally and forgives us when we confess  and acknowledge our sin to Him. He also forgets our sin completely. Yes, our God is a God who forgets.
We need to be aware and on our guard but we need not fear if we follow the guidelines we have been given.