Proverbs 8:29, “When He set for the sea its boundary so that the water would not transgress His command, when He marked out the foundation of the earth,”
Life has a way of squeezing the light out of a person with the daily grind and never-ending onslaught of opportunities, concerns, drama, whatever it is it continues and seems to never stop. I do agree, we have bright moments, days and even seasons when joy and happiness seem everlasting, but times of trouble and tribulation are ever prevalent as mentioned by John in verse 16:33. As born-again believers, really as anyone, born again or not it is important we take time away to recharge and maintain balance to our everyday circumstances. If you know me, you know that is very contradictory to who I am, I try but my soul, my very existence was created to go 90 miles an hour. If I am not asleep, then I have a deep inner drive to be accomplishing something. That can be studying God’s Word and typing up these messages, working at my job or even working in the yard. Whatever it is, the drive is deep and determined that I must stay busy.
I am confident and even sure that is why the Lord brought me Sherry to spend my life with. She is my balance and strongly encourages me to take time away from the grind to stay healthy and whole. Without her, I would miss so many of life’s opportunities. As I am focused on the next thing or busy at work, she brings balance and understanding that I cannot ever imagine not having in my life. She is the real balance not only in my life, but also within our family and friends. She is constantly checking on others and supporting their needs or encouraging and guiding those that could use a helping hand. So, I guess in turn, you could say she is driven but her drive is focused on family. When you say it like that, then you could say we are both driven and need a break every once in a while.
Typically, in April we try to schedule some time away and that trip is usually to Florida. We like Florida in April due to the nice weather, no hurricanes, the temperature is moderate and if you make sure it is after spring break season the crowds take a lull before the families come down for vacations and the entire state gets covered up. This year we went to Pensacola and Sherry found a nice spot on the beach that was not only beautiful, but not crowded and not commercialized. Sherry researches and plans our vacations and over the years our experiences have been wonderful, she always knows what is in the area to do, where to eat and how we will like the hotel and environment. What I like is when I mention plan, it is not routine or scheduled activities, instead we enjoy spending down time and more of a relaxed time away. If we feel like it, we might go try something in the area, but more than likely our day centers around relaxing on the beach with not much to do besides enjoying each other’s company and admiring God’s creation and all its wonder.
We like the beach and even more, I am mesmerized by its magnitude, the size, the strength, the never-ending relentless waves, the life that lives within, it all is fascinating, and I find myself staring at its mass with amazement and wonder. That is probably why Sherry made the following comment to me, the basis for this message. As I stood in wonder looking across the deep, Sherry looked over and in her depth of discernment commented, “God created this fishbowl and everything in it that we may stare and stay focused upon it with amazement and wonder.” What an awesome spiritual perspective, in the grand scheme of things, not only can we find God’s creation to be of such awe, but life, our very existence is so much more. We can become enamored by the seas size and strength when from God’s perspective the sea is merely a creation and life is so much more.
In this life we are here to represent Christ and His wonder but to do that, we are instructed to stay focused on Him, allowing Him to be the driver of our existence and God’s Word to be the directive of how we live out our days. In this world it is so easy to get stuck on the day to day, the non-eternal, the things that will fade away and, in most cases, resolve themselves with time. Will we always like the resolve or the outcomes of some of situations? Probably not, but when we weigh those circumstances against eternity and our calling as Christ followers, does it really matter? Just as the sea has a way to mesmerize and awestruck those in its midst, so does life have a way to narrow our focus on the minute, the meniscal, the aspects that in the larger picture do not matter. Those times when all we can see is disappointment while all the time God can see opportunity. An opportunity for each one of us to live out His desire that we be the light, the change, the driving force of encouragement and peace.
Writing this brings to mind that God created the ocean with all of its greatness but even more, in Christ, God created you and I and breathed His life into our bodies giving each one of us heavenly authority in the name of Jesus Christ living within and through us. Through our transformation in Christ (Ezekiel 18:31; 2 Corinthians 5:17) and daily renewal (2 Corinthians 4:16), God has placed within each one of us an even greater strength and ability to live as overcomers, the head and not the tail with an expectation of doing greater things than Christ. You might be thinking I am pushing the limits to make my point, but let’s read Mark 4:37-39, “A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown? He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” Christ in His authority, the same authority given each of us in His name, quieted the storm.
Let’s go back to my prior comment of our expectation to live a life greater than Christ while He was on this earth. John 14: 12-14 states, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” In Christ Jesus you will do greater works and whatever you ask in His name He will do. Even calming the sea that seems so ominous and unrelenting.
In conclusion, Sherry wrapped it up so eloquently on our flight back,” As we fly above the clouds, above the storms, above the turbulence in the airplane… so too should we rise higher above the storms and turbulence that life brings.” In Christ and the authority of His name, we can do all things. May your days be filled with God’s glory and your strength never waiver!
Shalom!!
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