Consider this…a man is lost out in the middle of the ocean. His boat has been overturned by a huge storm. He can see the shore, he knows that he is able to swim and make it alive. And yet, he CHOOSES to stay behind. He CHOOSES to stay out in the middle of the ocean AT NIGHT. Why you may ask? Well, he is not alone. He is with a group of other people(men, women, child) and some of them don’t know how to swim. What would posses a person to do something like this? Because they are a good person? Because it is the “right” thing to do? NO! The only reason that he could/would choose to stay out there to help others was because he KNEW beyond the shadow of a doubt. He KNEW with complete certainty that life on earth is fragile and temporary and what really matters is where you spend eternity. He KNEW that his eternity was secure because he had trusted in Jesus Christ alone for his salvation. This man had recognized his sin, repented, and told Christ “I can do nothing! Save me from my sins!” And as Christ will do for anyone who asks this…Christ said YES! With this certainty in his heart he could and did choose to stay behind and help others. He chose to love others and put them first. WOW!
I recently listened to a Beth Moore conference and she asked us this, “Do you want to live a “fine/humanly explainable life” or do you want to live in the “super natural provision of God”? God has asked us to step out in faith. We are here on this earth for HIM to show HIMSELF in our lives! So others will look at us and say “that is not just them, there is something more going on!” Sure we can go through the routine of our life. We can swim to safety and save ourselves. Or do we take that LEAP of faith and say ok God HERE I AM…USE ME! This can mean anything in our lives. It doesn’t mean you have to move or change your job…it means that you need to be available for God’s use. You have to be willing to be a little uncomfortable from time to time (like treading water for 13 hours through the DARK NIGHT in the middle of the ocean)…but God has ALWAYS shown himself faithful! Isn’t it crazy to even think that God wants to use us? Beth Moore said this, “The biggest wonder He wants to perform is-IN US!” Why else would God choose to dwell in us through His Holy Spirit? So, I ask you…are you swimming for safety? Or are you willing to wait it out through the storm, trusting that IT WILL BE WORTH IT! Trusting that the sacrifice and the pain and what makes us uncomfortable is GOOD! Do you want a life that is humanly explainable (oh yea, I swam the 2 miles to shore no problem). Or do you want to live in the super natural provision of God (I spent 13 hours holding on to a piece of wood, during the BLACK NIGHT, in the middle of the ocean..and we were ALL SAVED!!!)