Greetings in Christ,
We have all seen those news stories where someone is caught up in the water’s current struggling to get to land. They are helpless and they are giving everything they have just to keep their head above the water. They grasp onto anything they can find to keep them from going any further in the torrent. They finally get a hold of something so they can rest and hang on so someone can rescue them from the raging water.
We gasp at the sight of someone who finds themselves in that situation thinking we do want to be caught up in the same scenario. We wonder how they fell into the water to be overcome by the current, and think they are fortunate not to drown. We rejoice someone was close to hear their cries for help, and for the rescuers who put themselves in a situation they also may be succumbing to the raging water. We have sympathy for those who fell into the water and for those who are doing the rescuing knowing a tragedy was averted.
We on the other hand have a different approach to our thinking when we see someone or a group of people floating down the river in a boat, canoe, or rafting. We think of how much fun they are enjoying being on the water letting it take them downstream. We think it is relaxing to enjoy the boat keeping them afloat keeping them afloat as it goes with the flow of the river.
We do not see danger, but rather excitement and relaxation. The boat, canoe, or raft is doing the work of keeping the individuals afloat, and they are not struggling to maintain buoyancy. They for most part, are staying dry except for the occasional splash of water coming over the edge of the boat, and they are enjoying the time in the water. There are the thoughts we might enjoy it ourselves.
When we compare both scenarios, we chose to have the more enjoyable float down the river. We do not want to find ourselves fighting to stay afloat in a raging river, but sometimes we find ourselves in similar situation spiritually. We find ourselves struggling to stay afloat wanting to be able to enjoy the ride. We are not the first ones to experience this problem. Paul writes to the Galatians expressing his concern about their spiritual journey. He is comparing the law to faith and the experiences of both.
Paul expresses his concern for the Galatians holding onto the law for their righteousness. They want to hold onto the fact they are descendants of Abraham, but they do not take into consideration Abraham did not live by the law. The law did not exist in Abraham’s time on earth, and he was not trying to live by something he could not do, but rather he lived by faith believing God would do what He said He would do.
The Galatians wanted to hold onto the law which did not have any good resolve for righteousness. No one could ever abide by all the laws and keep them in accordance with what God had intended. It was impossible. It was like getting caught up in the river’s current trying to hang onto something hoping anyone heard your cries for help. The intent of the law was to point to righteousness hoping mankind would realize it was faith in God which made all the difference. The law was trying to point to the condition of heart rather than the condition of the physical person. That is why God sent Jesus.
Jesus was to be the one who showed the people it was the condition of the heart, and not the condition of the person. It was to be one of faith rather than blindly follow the law. Faith was to be the go-to thing for the people to attain so they can see the truth. Jesus was trying to show them it was faith that was the boat which was going to keep them afloat as they went down the river.
We want to hang onto our rituals and disciplines which we feel help us in our spiritual journey, and there is nothing wrong with spiritual discipline, but when it overbears faith, it is not good for us to practice. Routines and disciplines are to point us to righteousness, not be our righteousness. We must allow faith to be our boat so we can stay afloat in the spiritual river.
When we allow faith to be our boat, we enjoy the flow of the river much better. We will still get wet from time to time by the water splashing over the side, but we are not struggling to hang onto something hoping we can find rest.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Oh let Israel say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Oh let the house of Aaron say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Oh let those who fear the Lord say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” From my distress I called upon the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a large place. The Lord is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me? The Lord is for me among those who help me; therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. I will not die, but live, and tell of the works of the Lord. The Lord has disciplined me severely, but He has not given me over to death.” Psalm 118:1-9, 15-18
Lord may we allow faith to be our boat which keeps us afloat on the spiritual river. Amen
Blessings,