Thursday, July 19, 2012

Leave the Boat... It's Sinking


Luke 5:10b-11 – “Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”

Have you ever made plans that you were fully convinced you would follow through with but didn’t? I think most of us have. The funny thing about planning is that what we plan on in life is often subject to change.

Before Jesus began performing miraculous signs in the presence of the people, the three men named in Luke 5, Peter, James and John, probably weren’t second-guessing their life plans. For each of these men, fishing was a means of survival. It helped pay the bills and put food on the table for the families that depended on them. Despite all this, Luke asserts that each made a bold move after witnessing the unparalleled power and authority of Jesus… They “left everything and followed him.”  Consider the implications of leaving everything in your life for the purpose of following after another: imagine quitting college 3.5 years into your major, walking away from the job that puts gas in your car, or even worse! Putting down your cell phone and disconnecting all forms of social media in response to the realization that there is something far better awaiting you once you do. The point here is not for you to aimlessly go and do the latter but rather to put yourself in the shoes of the men who did and consider whether or not they were crazy or actually onto something. The text tells us that they gave up “everything” in order to be with Jesus. In the original language, the word ‘everything’ actually means… everything.

The implication is short and sweet: the disciples resolved to put everything on the line, including their life plans (which the fishing boats represent) in order to pursue something that was greater. Their obedience to God’s initial call led them to discover their highest purpose in life. The same is true for you and I. My personal ambitions prior to knowing Jesus looked very different than what they shaped into after I truly met Jesus. For instance, I always envisioned myself being a college basketball player that would go on to be a Physical Therapist; not a Psychology student that would go on to be in full-time ministry. You see, the script of my life was dramatically flipped once I began walking with God. The irony of such a course correction is that I now experience a deeper sense of fulfillment in life doing what I said I would never do in contrast to what I thought I would always do. True story, at the age of 11, my Dad said to me: “Jeremy, don’t be surprised if you end up in full-time ministry.” My response went something like this: “fat chance” (Sarcasm intended). Thankfully, I was wrong. The day I left the fishing boats that housed my own selfish ambitions was the same day my innermost passions were awakened. Not to mention I also met my beautiful wife, Victoria, because of it. This never would’ve happened had I chosen to accompany fishing boats. My heart breaks over the countless lives who have done just that and chosen their way over God's way. I am so deeply burdened over this because I can now see, coming out of trying to do it my own way, God's way is far better.


The example initiated by Jesus and obeyed by three simple fishermen changed my life and has the capacity to change yours. In order for it to do just that, an important question should be raised: what fishing boats do you need to leave behind? Maybe it’s an unhealthy relationship that is currently draining you of the joy you are entitled to when you are in Christ. It could even be a self-centered pursuit of money and power. Could jealousy have something to do with it? Maybe it’s a lingering feeling of bitterness towards the Father that walked out on you. Regardless of what the boats may be, they’ll end up sinking both you and the people you take with you in it one day. Therefore, I would unashamedly challenge you to leave your boats behind and walk with Jesus. You won’t have all the answers when you do, but you will experience something that is far better; assurance of who you are. A forgiven (Ephesians 1:7), accepted (II Corinthians 5:21), and loved (Romans 5:8) child of God (Ephesians 1:5). Those who are in Christ are entitled to purpose in life. If you feel as if you have none then maybe, just maybe, its because your still holding onto something God intended for you to let go of a long time ago.

Leave the boats behind and follow Jesus. And don’t be surprised if when you do, your nets begin to overflow with passion and purpose.