HEEL OVER HEAD
Mathew 14:27-31 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
He’d been attending church more regularly, lately. A couple of times a year was regular compared to a couple a decade, isn’t it? Every sermon seemed to be the same old “same ol”; everyone needed to be reconciled to God and lead a more God-centered life. The same sermon wafted its way into the congregation every visit, but seemed to fall short just shy of his lonely and favorite back pew. The pastor was a good man and though the sermon seemed to contain various subjects and encompass myriad verses the message invariably never reached him where it mattered.
Yet, there were a few tendrils of truth writhing for a few moments of life at his feet. For the first time he felt that the message had meaning. Why would this Sunday be any different than any other? I’m sure the pastor would credit the Holy Ghost with more than a little involvement. It was getting later, probably only about fifteen minutes to go. Inexplicably, at his next point in the hundred point sermon, the tendrils of truth reached out and grabbed him by the ankles with maniacal strength. He’d simply looked down absent mindedly as the pastor threw out another verse of many verses when the written and oral word hit him square in the eye, ear, and heart, “Come”. Pastor Shep Hurd had been extolling the omniscience of God and God’s ability to pass by just when we needed him most.
Was he, like Peter, bidding Jesus to call? Once, during one of pastor Hurd’s many visits, he’d learned God calls and seeks man because man lacks the will or desire to seek God. Many would argue that they had sought God, but the pastor had explained that in each case it was God who had been near and close enough to be seen. Some may have even asked for Gods call, as Peter had, but it is God who paves the way with open arms.
For a precious few minutes he wrestled with himself. He became oblivious to everyone around him while he fought the war of his life. His heart rate was soaring out of sight, his sight taking on the aspect of tunnel vision, and the adrenalin rush of fight or flight instinct coursed through his veins. Pastor Shep Hurd began to give the invitation and the piano player settled onto her bench and began to play. “Come”. He looked over his shoulder but no one was behind him. “Come”. The altar loomed large in his super aware vision. All he had to do was pray. He could do that right where he was. “Come”. Not able to abide in silence and the stillness of thunderous thoughts he shifted from foot to foot. Pastor Hurd caught his eye and without any outward motion or sound, silently implored him to come down. “Come”. Could Peter have stayed in the ship after Jesus had called?
His whole life played itself before him. They say that before you die that happens. Was he dying? Was he having a heart attack? The play came to an abrupt end and the meaning was glaringly clear; his life was wracked with sin and though many people would consider him a good man the perspective through God’s eyes of the good in him paled against the insurmountable bad which stained his corruptible life. Even the good things and accomplishments could be construed as evil by their intent. Why would God seek such a lowly and filthy man as he? “Come”. - And so, he went!
Thirty years had come and gone since the day he’d answered Jesus’ imploring summon. He’d received calls to minister with and to others in many ways. For twenty-five years he’d seemed to be walking on water. The world in the waters couldn’t touch him, and his heels never sank beneath the waves. Not everything had gone well in his life, but God walked beside him all the way.
Lately, though, he’d become dismayed and discouraged. Nothing seemed to be going as planned. Everything he was involved with seemed to dissolve into strife and discord. Wasn’t God still present in his life? His family had split into division over a silly little squabble. The last few years had left him exiled from his son’s affection and presence. Where had he gone wrong? After all this time it seemed he was only, barely, keeping his head above water. At any moment he expected everything to come crashing down around him. The tempest of his life and others was battering him from side to side and the waves of conflict tossed him to and fro. The last time he’d been to church… Had that been three months ago? The last time had been almost too much to take. Where was God? Maybe, he wasn’t even saved! His prayers seemed to fall straight from his lips and onto the floor, lying listless and dead at his feet.
His eyes spied the bible lying on the floor and in the corner beside his couch. A thin film of dust had settled on its surface. After these few years of concerned phone calls and desperate prayers the dust he saw jarred him awake. It was like a dozing dream in which you crash to the ground in some fashion and the experience sends a jolt of adrenalin and spasm through your body. Only, this wasn’t his body being jolted, but his soul and spirit. Had he neglected God’s Word for so long?
Almost by instinct he reached and picked up his precious bible. Without any apparent volition on his part whatsoever, he opened to his favorite passage. Oh, he knew it by heart. The tear stained page, highlighted, underlined, and marked passage wasn’t just a passage of scripture anymore. On that day thirty years ago Pastor Shep Hurd had preached a simple gospel message from its account. This passage of scripture had been the word of his faith, as testified by the verse, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”, (Romans 10:17). Only, the account of Peter and Jesus came with new understanding today. Years ago the message was of salvation from sin and a world of sin. Today, it had a new meaning. It had become the outstretched hand of Jesus, once more bringing comfort, support, and strength. Why had he doubted after all that Jesus had done for him? How could he have let the problems, temptations, and conflict of the world take his eyes off of Christ? Soaking his bible once again in tears of joy brought light into his eyes and warmth to his soul. After a heartfelt prayer which went straight to the throne of God, he grabbed the phone and called his son. Pride could have destroyed it all, but Christ had put his feet back above the sea and now he walked with God. How could he have ever let go?
Mathew 14:32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
Are you struggling to hold your head above water or walking with Christ above the waves?
