Have you ever swam in the ocean?
I am not much of an ocean swimmer, but I go in about ankle to knee deep and enjoy the water when I have the privilege of visiting the coast (which doesn't happen all that often).
Recently I took a family vacation to South Carolina. When we arrived we hit the beach pretty quick--I mean, we spent hours in a car driving from land-locked Missouri to the coast, of course we were going to get on the sand as fast as we could!
I have a habit of looking at the ground when I walk, hoping I won't fall on my face by tripping over . . . well . . . just about anything (confession: gravity and I are not, shall we say, friends). As I walked along the shore line at high tide, the waves would crash on the beach, the water would come up around my ankles and then recede back into the ocean. As I watched the water come upon the shore and fade back into the ocean, I found myself drifting with the tide. As the water rushed inland, I would shift more towards the sand; as it receded, I would get closer to the ocean. It became obvious this was happening when the water was suddenly up to my knees instead of merely covering the top of my feet! As I looked up, I was surprised to see how far I had drifted off my original path.
Proverbs 4:27 came to mind as I stumbled over the waves:
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
How easy it is to deviate off course. I was able to walk in a straight line along the shore only when I looked up and maintained my focus on a fixed point. How often do I lose my footing as I walk along this Christian life? It is so easy to become self focused and take my eyes off the One who keeps me balanced, stable, useful, purposeful in this life. The smallness of drifting off course can easily lead to greater problems if you don't heed your surroundings--it can easily be disastrous!
Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
I am not much of an ocean swimmer, but I go in about ankle to knee deep and enjoy the water when I have the privilege of visiting the coast (which doesn't happen all that often).
Recently I took a family vacation to South Carolina. When we arrived we hit the beach pretty quick--I mean, we spent hours in a car driving from land-locked Missouri to the coast, of course we were going to get on the sand as fast as we could!
I have a habit of looking at the ground when I walk, hoping I won't fall on my face by tripping over . . . well . . . just about anything (confession: gravity and I are not, shall we say, friends). As I walked along the shore line at high tide, the waves would crash on the beach, the water would come up around my ankles and then recede back into the ocean. As I watched the water come upon the shore and fade back into the ocean, I found myself drifting with the tide. As the water rushed inland, I would shift more towards the sand; as it receded, I would get closer to the ocean. It became obvious this was happening when the water was suddenly up to my knees instead of merely covering the top of my feet! As I looked up, I was surprised to see how far I had drifted off my original path.
Proverbs 4:27 came to mind as I stumbled over the waves:
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
How easy it is to deviate off course. I was able to walk in a straight line along the shore only when I looked up and maintained my focus on a fixed point. How often do I lose my footing as I walk along this Christian life? It is so easy to become self focused and take my eyes off the One who keeps me balanced, stable, useful, purposeful in this life. The smallness of drifting off course can easily lead to greater problems if you don't heed your surroundings--it can easily be disastrous!
Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
A few days into our vacation we visited a smaller, less touristy beach. As we walked onto the beach itself I saw the warning sign you see on the right.
I didn't think much of it, as I wasn't there to swim. I did go into the water as before, but I was careful to look up so I wouldn't drift too far into the water unintentionally. I went out a little deeper, enjoying the coolness of the water. At the deepest point I was up to my knees and found myself surprised at the strength of the current tugging on me. Even though I was being cautious and keeping my eyes focused on a fixed point so as to not drift off course, I was still being pulled into the ocean.
There are times when there will be things that pull and tug at you, enticing you, drawing you in, trying to pull you off course. There isn't as much subtlety here. There is a direct pull against you, and if you are not planted firmly, you will lose your balance. You will fall. You will wander.
We don't always get large warning signs cautioning us to beware the deceptive pull ahead of us, but that does not mean we have been left without a guide. Christians have the Holy Spirit within, and that Spirit is directing, convicting, leading, rebuking, guiding us. We have the Word of God at our fingertips. Are you unsure about a decision? Dig in the Word, seek His face, praying for the Holy Spirit to lead you as you seek to honor and serve the Lord. Still don't know? Seek wise counsel. Don't wait for someone else to come along side of you and point out that huge warning sign you missed--earnestly seek His face, and look for the warnings yourself.
Now, if a friend walks up along side you and points out a huge warning sign you missed--be thankful you have such a friend. That's biblical friendship.
I didn't think much of it, as I wasn't there to swim. I did go into the water as before, but I was careful to look up so I wouldn't drift too far into the water unintentionally. I went out a little deeper, enjoying the coolness of the water. At the deepest point I was up to my knees and found myself surprised at the strength of the current tugging on me. Even though I was being cautious and keeping my eyes focused on a fixed point so as to not drift off course, I was still being pulled into the ocean.
There are times when there will be things that pull and tug at you, enticing you, drawing you in, trying to pull you off course. There isn't as much subtlety here. There is a direct pull against you, and if you are not planted firmly, you will lose your balance. You will fall. You will wander.
We don't always get large warning signs cautioning us to beware the deceptive pull ahead of us, but that does not mean we have been left without a guide. Christians have the Holy Spirit within, and that Spirit is directing, convicting, leading, rebuking, guiding us. We have the Word of God at our fingertips. Are you unsure about a decision? Dig in the Word, seek His face, praying for the Holy Spirit to lead you as you seek to honor and serve the Lord. Still don't know? Seek wise counsel. Don't wait for someone else to come along side of you and point out that huge warning sign you missed--earnestly seek His face, and look for the warnings yourself.
Now, if a friend walks up along side you and points out a huge warning sign you missed--be thankful you have such a friend. That's biblical friendship.