Get In The Boat

Do you like to travel? I really have enjoyed visiting various
places throughout our country and even overseas. But, did you know there is a difference between traveling and touring. According to Daniel Boorstein in his book, The Lost Art of Travel, things have changed significantly over the last number of decades. Years ago when you planned a trip, you really had to do a lot of planning. If you were going out of the U.S., you were likely getting on a ship and it would take a week to get there. You had to carry lots of stuff and spend more than a weekend. The same was true of traveling in the Old West. You were on a stage coach or wagon and you had to worry about the heat, few beds, bad food, even being robbed by bandits. Traveling was risky and difficult.
That all changed when companies began to offer tours. From better transportation to luxury accommodations, people were able to see the world quicker, easier, and without much risk. Suddenly tours allowed folks to see the sights… from a bagpipe player in Scotland to staged western shoot-outs to even one town in England who offered tourist a real public hanging as your bus stopped in their town for gas and refreshments. That is why travelers generally go to “destinations” instead of random places. Smart companies created tours which kept people from wondering too much into local areas.
In Matthew 8:18-22, this is what Jesus tells “wannabe” disciples. “Jesus told his disciples to get him out of there to the other side of the lake. As they left, a religion scholar asked if he could go along. ‘I'll go with you, wherever,’ he said. Jesus was curt: ‘Are you ready to rough it? We're not staying in the best inns, you know.’ Another follower said, ‘Master, excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have my father's funeral to take care of.’ Jesus refused. ‘First things first! Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue life."
I hate to tell you, but I believe that Jesus is asking us to travel… not tour. Traveling involves a time commitment. It involves a commitment to personal risk. It involves prioritizing what Jesus wants over what we may want. I have always noted that one of the people asking was a religion scholar. That would be someone who supposedly knows the Law and has a relationship with God, yet Jesus is clear that following Him means it may not be comfortable or cushy. Following Jesus may mean that you have no place to lay your head. Your faith may be tested and you will have difficulties.
But what is the payoff to traveling with Jesus? It obviously isn’t being rich or having the best of everything, so what could it be? Jesus promises life… a life worth living… a battle worth fighting for… a beauty to be saved… a wonderful, energetic, and fruitful life. Too many people are content to “tour” with Jesus. They simply hit the hi-lites and see pretty much what they expect to see along the quick route through life. Jesus knew that people longed for something more than a tour of life. Jesus knew that we would be better off to travel and follow Him. It would offer riches beyond wealth and visions of God’s mighty acts far beyond the mundane day-to-day views of the world we settle for.
I remember living in Fort Walton Beach, Florida some years ago. All of the tourist went to many of the crappy fish houses and shops on the island and main street. But locals, we knew better.
We went to the best restaurants nowhere near the beach. My favorite was Mary’s Kitchen. Ooohhh… the food was awesome. But rarely, if ever, did you see a tourist eating there… it was only those of us who lived, if only for awhile there, as travelers. Let’s see what Jesus has in store for us. Let’s follow Him. Quick, get in the boat! Until next time,

Like A Dead Fly on the Window Sill

A man saw a dead fly lying on the window sill. Suddenly, he began to think about how the fly represents so much of life as it is lived… not by flies, but by us… humans. Here are a few of the thoughts that filled his mind as he stared at the dead fly.
The fly left it all on his field of dreams. The effort exhausts without truth. A false savior will kill you every time. We can’t invent freedom. It’s not up to us to make it. Things are not always what they seem. It’s okay to stop and rest. Listen!
He made a little banner with a post-it note and a tooth pick. On the banner he wrote “I did it my way.” Then he took some small rocks and hoisted the banner above the fly in honor of the fly’s Herculean effort.
So what does to fly teach us? The dead fly illustrates how some live out our lives. Here in Texas, we have seen lots of flies trying to get out through the window and die trying because there is a screen prohibiting their exit. The fly put everything it had into getting out but died trying. The fly gave all he had and left it on his field of dreams just as we will.
The fly didn't have truth. Sadly, the fly was deceived. He believed freedom was ahead, but it was only death. Death awaits all, no matter what else you may think or deny. The fly never heard anyone say, “Fly you cannot get through that window, try the door or something else.” The fly saw the window as a way out and it was determined to go through the window even if it killed him. And it killed him.
We all live out our lives looking through the screen. All people want to know their salvation is assured. They want to believe without doubt that God is going to welcome us into the eternity that He intends for us. But, God seems hard to get to on the other side of the screen and we cannot get there. Thus, many people find themselves working out our faith without any confidence. Like the fly, real freedom is what people seek. It is a freedom from worry and a real honest knowledge of God’s love. The fly sought LIGHT! We want to know the LIGHT.
In John 14:6-7 Jesus said, "I am the Road (the Way), also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You've even seen him!" Sometimes, things are not as they appear to be. The fly thought it saw all it needed… it just needed to pass into that future. It simply needed to fly, but it couldn’t. Many of us do that. We become enamored with false visions. Either we think we can make it into the future eternity without God or we think being good is simply enough. Why didn’t the fly rethink its strategy? Why doesn't it just stop thinking, “I can do it, I can do it. I'll try one more time, one more time, one more time!” It could not, we cannot. We look at the dead fly and wonder why it is so stupid and wonder if we are much smarter.
Thankfully, God is a lot smarter than we are. God knew we needed a way to get to the Light. The truth is that we, like the fly on the window sill, will die too. Happiness, Love, Joy, etc… in this life and the next can only be given by God. God (The Holy Spirit) comes through the screen and meets us here on earth and gives us hope. A real hope that will sustain us, lead us, and help us to live as disciples. God even reaches out to us in our death and raises us out of the grave. God does it all. It's not up to us. Yes, we are much like a fly, but if can put your trust in God, your eternal life is assured. That is Good News. If you have trouble trusting, simply ask God for help in your effort. God will respond. I give thanks to Dr. Baxter Kruger for seeing a dead fly on the window sill and, who knows, maybe we will see that fly in heaven, it just won’t annoy us. Until next time, Blessings!