David Lochridge: He was fired five years after warning them not to visit the Titanic wreck; the warnings he gave them came true.

Titanic, the Famous Ship of the 18th Century

For you reading this story, I am certain you’ve heard the tale of the Titanic, and some may have even seen the iconic film featuring the characters Jack and Rose. Those who haven’t had the chance to watch the movie may still have seen images of the ship on playing cards or in other contexts.

The Titanic was built by a British company in 1911, and due to its grandiosity, it was dubbed the “Unsinkable Boat.” Let’s step back a bit: in late 1911, a massive iceberg measuring 125 meters broke off from a larger one that was 500 meters long in the southwest of Greenland, near Canada. On a cold, dark night without a moon, April 14, 1912, the Titanic left Southampton, bound for New York, only to collide with that iceberg. In less than three hours, the ship broke in two and sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Out of 2,200 people on board, 1,500 died, meaning two-thirds perished. Many investigations followed, and in 1985, the wreckage was discovered. 3D images of the wreck were captured in the summer of 2022, providing a detailed view.

He Warned Them Not to Visit the Wreck, but They Fired Him

Because of the Titanic’s history and the attraction it holds for many, numerous people have wanted to visit the wreck. David Lochridge, who was born in Scotland but lived in Washington, U.S.A., worked for a company called OceanGate. He warned the company that sending its Titan submersible to explore the Titanic posed great danger, as it could face an accident. His superiors ignored him, including the CEO, who later died in that very disaster. After the submersible went missing, David was fired for allegedly leaking company secrets. David had stated that the Titan submersible couldn’t safely descend beyond 1.3 kilometers, whereas the Titanic wreck lies at a depth of 3.8 kilometers in pitch darkness.

Farewell

Five years after issuing his warning, a group of tourists, including researchers, took the Titan submersible to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, and now all of them have died. Some of these individuals were among the world’s wealthiest and had donated large sums to charitable causes. I must pause here and say “farewell” because only God knows a person’s end, as eternal rest is granted to those who have found peace from their sins. To read more about this story, CLICK HERE.

Let’s Take a Spiritual Lesson from This Tragic Story

The Holy Scriptures touch on every aspect of life. They contain promises, warnings, punishments, and rewards. From the beginning of the Bible to its conclusion in Revelation, we see many who were warned but ignored the message, putting their trust in themselves and ultimately facing destruction.

Just as David Lochridge warned his company not to descend into the depths of the Atlantic, where the water pressure is 390 times that at the surface, the Bible has given us warnings about sin, using preachers, prophets, pastors, and others to call us to repentance. Unfortunately, many refuse to listen and continue to steer their lives toward destruction, much like the Titan submersible that descended to the bottom of the ocean despite the warnings. I fear that those who refuse to repent will meet a similar fate.

Those who descended into the ocean trusted in the technology they had created, believing that even if there were problems, they had the resources (air supply, etc.) to survive. But I repeat, it was all in vain. Similarly, those who place their trust in their own works, thinking that these will save them, are deceiving themselves, for eternal life is found only through faith in Jesus (John 3:16-17). However, I must warn you that faith is not merely a belief; it should change your actions. As James 2:17 says, “faith without works is dead.”

Conclusion

Be careful not to ignore the warnings. If those who ignored warnings on earth did not escape, how much more will we suffer if we turn our backs on the One who warns us from heaven! (Hebrews 12:25). The Lord is not slow in keeping His promises, as some understand slowness. He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).