Choosing To Surface

When you and I decide to walk with God we enter into quite a challenge. We move onto a harder life path, a swim upstream. Sometimes the struggle is fierce, and, at times, it may not seem worth the effort.

One summer when I was in college I got a job with the California Corp of Engineers. My friend Patrick and I traveled to various lakes around our state and set up booths to take recreational surveys. When people exited the different parking areas we asked them what activities they had participated in that day. It was a fun summer job.

One of the lakes we worked was Lake Isabella, located in the mountains just outside Bakersfield. As you drive up the winding road into that small community there is a sign that warns visitors to stay out of the river because it is dangerous. That summer I think the sign showed the number 54; signifying how many people had in fact drowned in that section of the Kern River.

On one of our days off, Patrick and I wanted to go fishing and catch some of the nice sized trout we had seen other fisherman pull out of the river just below our campground. As we headed down to find a good spot we saw a large boulder sticking out in the middle of the river and decided to fish from that rock.

As I waded out to the large boulder the water became swift and strong.  When I reached the boulder and started to climb up onto it I could not get a grip because underneath the water level the boulder was covered with moss and slime, making it impossible to get a footing and pull myself up. I was then swept into the rough current and taken downstream.

Now, growing up in Auburn I have swam in many streams and rivers and was comfortable in water. But at this moment I found myself in serious trouble. At this particular spot the river was running down a narrow gorge about fifteen feet deep and the water was tumbling over and over again. The water immediately pulled me down and held me about four feet below the surface. I kicked and paddled trying to surface and catch a breath, but every time I got close to the top the tumbling water pulled me down once again.  I knew I was in a bad situation.

Then my mind did a funny thing. Later I found out it was the usual thing, but my mind began telling me to do something that didn’t fit the circumstance. As I labored to get to the surface my legs began to fatigue, and my mind instructed my body to stop the struggle, to close my eyes and take a rest. Blackness began to close in on my peripheral vision and my mind repeated the command to simply relax and take a nap. Take a nap in the middle of the river?!?!

But at that precarious moment something else kicked in. My will finally spoke up. My will to live shouted louder than the voice of rest. As the blackness began to close further in I chose to obey the command of my will, and kicked hard one more time and was able to break the surface and get half a breath of air before being drug under again. Just about that same moment there was a bend in the river and it changed from deep and narrow to shallow and wide. It finally smoothed out. I kicked to the top and took in several deep gulps of air. Looking ahead I saw a tree branch in the middle of the river, and climbing onto it, got out of the water to regain my composure. After a few minutes of rest I jumped back in and swam easily to shore in the smooth current. I had almost drowned, but instead survived.

Sometimes, when we decide to live for God and really try and walk close to Him, we face the harsh current of temptation, resistance from the world, or discouragement from life’s difficulties. As we fight to stay on top of our spiritual vitality we may hear a call from our human nature to simply take a rest, to stop the struggle and give in to the circumstance. It’s not always easy to live for the Lord, just as it’s not always easy to live with Him on a daily basis. There are so many other voices pushing and pulling us down into discouragement and compromise.

But at such moments we do have a choice. We can give in to those thoughts beckoning us to give up or give in. If we listen to those thoughts a great opportunity dies; a chance to grow and see God work in us in a special way. On the other hand, we can fight, kick, and paddle to stay close to Him and allow Him to fill us with His Spirit. He wants to use His Word and His Spirit to help us reach the surface of our struggle. Philippians 4:13 is true when it says, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”

My hope for us all for 2013 is that we would choose to rise above the struggles and succeed. When the raging river comes and its current is strong, choose life, His life. Never give up, never give in. Just ahead of you may be a bend in the river and a smoothing out of the stream. In 2013 let’s spend time regularly meditating on God’s word and in prayer. This gives us the tools and experience to stay close to our rescuer, Jesus Christ, when we fall into an unwanted circumstance or temptation.

Does anyone have a story of survival that can be illustrative of their spiritual journey? Let’s share stories this month on how God has rescued us. I’d love to hear what God has done in your life.

Now I fish from the shore…

I love being your Pastor… See you on Sunday.

Pastor Phil