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Themes Priorities Safety or Riches The "Ocean Ranger" was the largest oil drilling rig in the world. It was 400 feet long and 340 feet high. Its production deck was larger than two football fields. Inside the crew quarters were all the comforts of home. It was almost like a floating hotel! Anchored by giant chains to the ocean floor, the rig was being used to find oil off the south east coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Oil had been discovered and now all the major companies - Gulf, Texaco, Chevron and others were rushing to be a part of the action. The "black gold" meant money! However, not all was well with the Ocean Ranger. From the first time it had been towed into position on the Grand Banks in 1980, the engineers had problems keeping it absolutely level. The rig would "list" or lean so much everyone could feel it. Some of the workers began to call it the "Ocean Danger" and would laugh as they described its unusual performance. Even the helicopter pilot who flew supply missions noticed the rig was usually leaning off on an angle. Not a whole lot but enough to see. He thought it strange but did nothing about it. In fact, nobody did anything about it. Despite all the warning signals, everyone was interested in only one thing - oil! It didn't matter what it cost or what was overlooked. The main thing was to get the oil flowing as soon as possible. Safety instruction, emergency procedures and proper training of the control room technicians were not as important as finding and pumping out oil. Almost sounds like Balaam, doesn't it? He knew what he should do. However, for him, money was the most important thing in life. The Bible says that despite the sad course he took, he "loved the wages of unrighteousness" (2 Peter 2:15. He really wanted to die like a Christian but when the end finally came, he perished in his sins. How tragic! Sad to say, that's exactly what happened to the Ocean Ranger. On February 14, 1982, a tremendous winter storm began to lash the oil rig. Eighty foot waves swept across its decks. One of the waves broke the control room port hole and tons of salt water poured over the electrical balance switches. The men worked frantically to keep the rig upright. Despite all their attempts, the giant oil rig capsized in the darkness of the night. Eighty-four men perished in the tragedy with no one able to rescue them. The same thing still happens today. Balaam wanted money more than truth. The Ocean Ranger put production ahead of safety. What are you putting ahead of salvation? The Bible says, "God will have all men to be saved" (1 Timothy 2:4) God felt the salvation of your soul was so important that He sent His Son to die on the cross. How important is salvation to you? As the little song says, "Oh yes, my friend, there's something more, Something more than gold, To know your sins are all forgiven, Is better far than gold."
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Peter Orasuk
