Hi!
I was down at the beach the other day on our last day of our vacation when I noticed something interesting. It wasn’t the fun dolphins playing in the surf (wow did they look big…I would say eight feet plus!), nor was it the good waves. What I noticed as I was soaking in the morning sun and reading and thinking was this one particular surfer.
Maybe it was my slight ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or my natural curiosity, but I observed this surfer pull into a parking space, get all suited up, grab his board and enter the water. After a bit of struggle getting out past the breakers, he did enjoy a few good rides. ‘Good for him,’ I thought. And then I thought about my long board gathering dust at home and wondering why I did not bring it and why I was not out there. But that’s not what I noticed.
Anyway, here this guy is paddling out, riding in, paddling back out and I noticed that he was drifting farther away from where he entered the water in the first place. Most every surfer and person playing in the ocean knows (or should know) that there exists a costal current that moves along the shore, and unless you compensate for that current you find yourself yards down the beach from where you entered. This guy was not compensating, he was not making any counter actions to paddle back or get out of the water and walk back, so I kept watching, and watching, and watching until he was out of sight. He was about a mile down the beach from where he originally went in!
As I thought about this guy I was challenged about how easy it is to drift in life. There are so many currents pulling us in all kinds of directions. The Bible even warns us…
Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
We are to take a mature look at life knowing that there are currents that will take us if we are not aware and even move us off God’s path of life. You know the path that God has a plan for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11) and that plan seeks Jesus first and central (Matthew 6:33). This plan looks a lot like what Jesus did (1 Corinthians 11:1) by following Him. By the way, if you don’t know these verses look them up!
So be aware and notice if you are drifting away from God. One way to tell if we are drifting from the Lord’s way of life is to notice that we have an over emphasis on self; being too concerned about what we get rather than give, too concerned about what’s in it for self rather than what brings God the greatest glory, wanting things ‘my’ way, where ‘I’ am noticed, catered to, respected, having an influence over, and even giving into sin. When it gets really bad it looks like this…
Ephesians 4:19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
The drift is real and affects everyone. The key here is notice. If this guy was aware he was drifting he could have made just a few adjustments and kept close to his car and the great surf right in front of him. All he had to do was compensate for the drift.
For us in life it’s to keep our focus on Jesus. To keep learning about how amazing and wonderful and awesome and incredible He is.
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
This is not just a Christmas Bible verse, it’s a proclamation of who Jesus is. He is help in times of trouble, all-powerful GOD, an always personally present loving Father, and One who can bring peace in any life situation. That’s Jesus and He is who we should be focusing on so we don’t drift, and when we do, compensate by learning more and more about Jesus.
Ephesians 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
To compensate for the currents of life we are to ‘grow up into Him’, to know Him more, and to place Him as the Head or central in life. We are to set our affections and purposes in life on Him.
So what about you? How’s your focus on Jesus? Are you drifting too much? Keep looking to Jesus…
Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Seeking to Compensate for the Drift with you,
Mike
Messages From Mike 