Good morning. I read recently of an argument between two men who had gathered with their extended family for Thanksgiving. They were brothers-in-law, and for the most part got along OK. The argument that they were engaging in was over some pictures one of the guys had recently taken while he and his wife, the other fellow’s sister, were on a vacation to Paris. He had several pictures, since he and his wife had decided to spend one day as a part of a tour group that took a busload of American tourists past most of the great landmarks of Paris. The argument began when the fellow with the pictures showed the other guy his pictures of Notre Dame Cathedral. He explained how he was able to check that off his “bucket list” since seeing Notre Dame had always been dream of his. His brother-in-law remarked that this was somewhat tragic because it was a shame to have been so close to the great cathedral and yet to have missed it. His point of view was that you could never claim to have experienced Notre Dame by only spending a few minutes to take some pictures. To experience Notre Dame, he explained, required many hours to soak in the beauty, meditate on its wonder, and reflect on its history. Anything less than that, he proclaimed, was hardly more than reading about it in a magazine. Personally, I think that I would have to agree with that point of view.
Imagine if you will a young boy with a purpose. He has decided that while his family is vacationing at an ocean front resort, planning to spend each day swimming and relaxing, he would spend his week building the world’s finest sandcastle. The first morning he hurries out to the beach with his small shovel and bucket, and spends the day building his castle. He carefully uses the wet sand at the ocean’s shore to shape his vision, one little shovel full at a time. His work is actually pretty impressive, at least when you consider that it is being done by someone of his age. His vision of the castle is great enough that it is going to be more than a one day job. In fact, he intends to spend the entire week on his project, with each new day’s efforts beginning where the previous day ended. Imagine his disappointment when he hurries to the shore at the start of his second day to find his castle gone. He doesn’t know what happened, but undaunted he starts again. At the end of the second day his efforts were far from finished, although they were clearly greater than what he had done on day one. When he arrives in the early morning of the third day, he finds that yet again, somehow his castle was destroyed while he slept. This time, the boy reacts with tears. His mother asks him why he is crying, and he explains to her his loss, assuming that it was at the hands of some mean person who came at night to destroy his castle. His mom explains to him that it isn’t some mean person, it is all natural, the work of the ocean’s tides.
I share those two stories to point out the realities of our lives of faith. If we truly desire to experience the joy of faith in Christ, it will require more from us than quickly passing through while taking a few memorable snapshots. When we read John 6:35 “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.” we understand that Jesus is the bread of life. This means that to enjoy life in Christ Jesus we must partake of Him fully, daily, prayerfully, and completely. Just a nibble won’t do. We need to accept that Jesus needs our full attention as we soak in His beauty, as we meditate upon His glory, as we reflect upon His truth. It is His purpose to fully nourish us and to sustain us throughout our journey with Him.
In Hebrews 10:38-39 we read my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Those who walk daily in the strength of the Lord are not those whose lives are built on the shifting sands. There is no shrinking back with daily destruction. our lives are built on the solid rock, able to withstand the tides and the storms that come.
Walking in the victory of Jesus is our opportunity, this and every day. For such a walk of faith we need to commit the time and energy to receive Him in His fullness. To feel the blessings of His presence and His power we need to build our lives on the certainty of His truth and commit ourselves to obedience to His will.
Full investment in Christ, full blessing from being rock solid in faith. Be blessed today!
Vern