Knowing God – November 28th issue
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By Rev Dale Lee
“Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s…” (Luke 5:3, NKJV)
Then Jesus got into one of the boats which was Simon’s and Simon Peter’s life would never be the same. Jesus is about to get into our boat. There is precious little time for us to be paddling around, toiling all night and catching nothing. Jesus is about to get into our boat.
Because of this encounter with the Lord Jesus, the fishermen brought their boats to land, forsook all, and followed Him (Luke 5:11). When Jesus gets into our boat He has something to say, a claim to make, a life-directive for us to embrace.
Many of us have a boat to bring to land. Bringing their boats to land revealed a real change of heart, a taking up of a new purpose, a letting go of all that was dear. And this God always requires His true followers to do. There is in God a heart to sacrifice and to give. And if we are to be like Him, He must place His heart into us. We have a boat to bring to land. For many of us it is full of past failures, disappointments, fruitless toil, broken dreams, pain. Some choose to live surrounded by these things rather then bring them to the Lord.
Then we have to forsake all. Can any of us really understand what this means? Jesus taught that “unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life,” (John 12:24-25). “But if it dies…” We are given eternal life in this world in order that, while we live, we may die some every day. The fishermen forsook all, all that was most dear to them, all they knew of life, all they knew of survival. But when Jesus gets into your boat this is ultimately the decision His very Presence will require you to make. Peter could not help but fall down at Jesus’ knees and say, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5:8)
They followed Him. Somehow they knew this One was worthy to be followed. Jesus is about to get into our boat and there will be many who bring their boats to land, forsake all, and follow Him as they have never done before. We have work to do.