Built
in 1914, the Panama Canal is a marvel of engineering. It extends across the
Isthmus of Panama, connecting the Atlantic Ocean (in the vicinity of the
Caribbean Sea) and the Pacific Ocean. The canal saves transit-time, and saves fuel,
by reducing the distance between the two oceans to a mere 48 miles, (compared
to 8000 miles if the ships had to journey around South America).
How
does the canal work? Geographically, the Pacific Ocean is a little higher than
the Atlantic, and the terrain of Panama is higher in the middle of the country.
A series of locks (devices that open and close) lift ships up to 85 feet (26m)
and lower them down into the next ocean. Each lock is double – so two ships can
pass through at the same time.
New upgrades to the system were completed in 2016 – allowing the system to accommodate large modern ships, which the original canal was unable to handle.
What’s
the connection? It is this…. Why don’t we lock on to Jesus? His grace is
extended to us all. His mercy is unfathomable. He can raise us from the depths
of sin and despair to the heights of glory. He alone can lift us up and deliver
us safely to His Father. And He has room to accommodate us all.
Watch
this video showing the ship “Celebrity Infinity” making its way through the
canal – a journey of more than 10 hours condensed to 5 minutes of beautiful
footage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shWrzvNGLdw
