Swept Along In The Currents
His name was Tom. We had never met him before, but we were privileged to be witnesses
to the greatest event of his life—his baptism. He had chosen to step into the water that
flows out of Wekiwa Springs in Florida. According to the Ranger, forty-two million gallons
of fresh, cool water makes its way to the surface each day from this underground spring.
People come to swim in it even during the winter here in Florida, when the constant
temperature of 72 degrees feels a bit warmer than it does on a hot summer day.
As the water springs up to form a large pool, it also leads
into a gently flowing river out into the marshes where the 'gators live. In
between the pool and the 'gators, the beautiful little river is a perfect
place for a baptism. This is the spot that Tom chose to start his life anew.
I can still see him standing there, looking straight up
into the late afternoon sun. His hands, palm down, skimming across the surface
of the clear, fresh water that flowed by him. A group of his church family had
gathered to pray for him and to witness the important decision he was making.
We learned that Tom's life had not been an easy road, even though he was still a very young man. He had made some decisions that had taken him in a very dangerous direction. But recently, he had given his life to Jesus Christ--and on this day, he was choosing to be baptized as an outward sign of his commitment.
Why would a young man do this? He looked, from all outward appearances, that he had everything going for him. He was young, handsome, and appeared very healthy. He could have probably gone on many years in his life down this dangerous road, but he chose to put a stop to it. He chose to get off the "detour" that was leading him astray, and to head back toward the narrow path that leads to eternal life.
It is no coincidence that we were given the privilege of witnessing Tom's baptism on this beautiful Sunday in Florida. There are no coincidences in God's plan, just a perfectly designed set of circumstances that will keep us ever searching for a closer relationship with God because of the everyday miracles He sets before us when we spend time with Him.
As we were doing just that on this Sunday--spending time with God and enjoying our outdoor Bible Study by this beautiful spring--my friend and I were invited to Tom's baptism, having just read:
"'If the Son makes you free,' Jesus promised, 'you shall be free indeed' (John 8:36).
May God grant us grace and courage to leave behind the fetters of legalism or license
and to soar as the golden eagles He has made us, swept along in the currents of
His Spirit to the glorious adventure of supernatural living, attaining a joy that
the shallow, earthly imitation called "happiness" can never touch.
Only then will we be 'free indeed.'"
(From "Experiencing Christ Within" by Dwight Edwards, italics mine.)
So why would Tom choose this? This commitment to One he has never actually seen? Could it be because he has tasted "happiness" in this world and it was not enough, it will never be enough, and even at his young age, he was figuring that out? Had Tom tasted "happiness" in a prison that kept him bound and chained to the things of this world, and found that it did not satisfy him? Was he finding it fell far short of what his soul knew was possible if he would only open himself up to the "glorious adventure of supernatural living"?
I heard someone say that Tom was "nature boy." That was
probably the reason he chose a river to be baptized in, rather than a man-made
pool of water. He probably sought adventure in his life, and he was not looking
for a boring life! He wanted more, and he wanted to live fully, and in all his
struggles to do that, he had come full circle to this day.
Paul writes in 1 Timothy 1:15-17:
This is a true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners—and I was the worst of them all. But that
is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a
prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then
others will realize that they, too, can believe him and receive eternal
life. Glory and honor to God forever and ever. He is the eternal King,
the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen
There might have been a time in Tom's life when he thought he was too far gone for God to even accept him. That is the devil's lie. Looking at the group of people who accompanied Tom to the river on this day, it was clear to see that the devil had been defeated. That the family of God had loved him right where he was at, and encouraged him to never give up on God, because God never gives up on us. As it says in 1 Timothy 2:1, "I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them, and give thanks." It was clear to see that many had prayed for Tom. He was not alone, even though he may have felt that way many times, but he was carried along on the prayers of many. Many of them witnessed his baptism and rejoiced with him on this day--that was clear to see.
Shortly after Tom's baptism, my friend and I were again
seated back next to the pool of water to continue on with our study when we
witnessed another amazing little miracle where God was showing us just what His
Word promises. A father with his two young boys were on an "adventure"…as
the father had each of his boys by the hand, he was leading them down a very
narrow path of cement that wound its way around the edge of the water. Both boys
had "superhero" shirts on--they were Superman and Flash. "Superman" even
had a small cape attached to his shirt!
These "Superheroes" were not so sure of themselves as they clung to their father's hand on this adventure. We heard "Flash" meekly say, "Dad, I don't want to do this." We smiled…what a clear picture of God leading us, of our Father holding us by the hand when life seems scary, when we don't want to go the way we need to. What a clear picture of a young man, Tom, choosing to walk down the narrow path that will lead him home. The one that his flesh will be screaming out against saying, "Dad, I don't want to do this," and knowing that his Father God will lead him by the hand all along the way.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Psalm 23:3
Tom's path will not be an easy one--no life is easy, but he will always have the hand of his Father guiding him along the right paths now. He will always have the supernatural power in him that comes from the Holy Spirit that now lives in him. He will not be a superhero, and he may not be wearing a superhero shirt, but he will have the power to destroy the enemies that will come against him in his life because it is God's power that will do it through him. It is all that he will need to live a victorious life, a full life, a life filled with "glorious adventure."
In our study, Dwight Edwards went on to say:
"Freedom in Christ is a spiritually intoxicating wine, a breathtaking flight into space, a soul-thrilling escape from enemy territory. It's the spiritual exhilaration of having one's soul set free for the high adventure of a God-enabled assault upon life."
Tom has just escaped from "enemy territory." He may not be fully aware of it as yet, being so young in the family of God, but he has! And not only that, all the things that a person may use to make life more exciting can never compare to "the high adventure of a God-enabled assault upon life."
Why would Tom choose to do this? To give his life to Jesus Christ, to walk away from all the things that once seemed so "needed" in his life? Because he found something so much better, it could not be denied any longer! How do I know this? Because I saw his face as he stood in the river. I heard his prayer as he gave his old life away to gain all that God was offering to him in this new life with Christ. I know because I too have cried out, "Dad, I don't want to do this." I have seen the battlefield, and I have been scared, and I have reached up for the hand of my Father as He led me to safety. It is the only way through our darkest days, and I know Tom has chosen well. He will not be disappointed.
Watching Tom's baptism, we were witnessing the "Freedom
in Christ" that was "spiritually intoxicating." It was a natural high for
"nature boy." He needed nothing more!
What Jesus offers us is so much better than what the world offers us. In trying to explain this in John 4:10, "Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me, and I would give you living water." In verse 13-14 He says, "People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water." (From the well). "But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life."
A "perpetual spring!" Tom had stepped into an earthly spring of water asking Jesus for the Living Water, the "perpetual spring" that will never run dry. When he stepped out of this earthly water, this 42 million gallons a day that people played in and swam in and some even thought was medicinal, he stepped out as a new man covered from head to toe with Living Water that flowed from within.
Will he walk away without problems in his life, without stress and strife and things that will want to pull him back into "enemy territory?" Absolutely not! The difference will be that he now has a supernatural power within him to hold on to when those times come. He can grab hold of his Father's hand!
When he cries out, "Dad, I don't want to do this." When he cries out "Dad, I can't do this alone, please help me!" He won't be clinging to an old disguise that he wore that made him look like Superman to the world. He will be clinging to a Truth that the world cannot see without supernatural eyes. The Truth of God's Word that has set him free!
2 Chronicles 32:6b-8
Then Hezekiah encouraged them with this address:
"Be strong and courageous! Don't be afraid of the
king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a
power far greater on our side! He may have a great army,
but they are just men. We have the Lord our God to help us
and to fight our battles for us!"
In reading the book "The Battle Belongs to the Lord" by Joyce Meyer, she puts it this way:
"I believe that the devil assigns demons every morning to sit on each of our shoulders and whisper in our ears, "What are you going to do? What are you going to do? What are you going to do?"
Jehoshaphat didn't feel stupid, and neither should we. He told God, "We don't know what to do, and even if we did, we wouldn't have the strength to do it." By saying this and meaning it, he put himself in a position of total dependence upon God. He did it early in the battle—the sooner we depend entirely on God, the sooner we will have the victory.
Without God's help, we can't change anything in our lives. We can't change ourselves, our spouse, our family, our friends or our circumstance. Truly, truly, apart from Him we cannot do anything!
We forfeit peace and joy due to not letting God be God. We try to figure out things we have no business even touching with our minds."
By Tom's Baptism and his confession of faith in Jesus Christ--and by truly meaning it, he has "put himself in a position of total dependence upon God." With that, he will have victory! It is assured! The battle, his battle, now belongs to the Lord!
I would like to end this message with a prayer for all the "Tom's" in this world--those who have just stepped out of earthly water and are now drinking the Living Water that will never run dry. I hope that all of you will join me in praying for them, because as Paul wrote, "I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people." (1 Timothy 2:1)
Lord, I pray for Tom and all the "Tom's" on this day who are wobbling around on
brand new legs not sure of what is ahead, and much too familiar with what they have
left behind. I pray that as each day starts, they will remember to start it with You.
That they will come to You and cry out to You when the way gets rough and the temptation
for what lies behind become so great they think they cannot stand it! I pray they will
cry out, "Dad, I don't want to do this!" knowing that You will be holding their hand and
helping them to do it. Just as Tom stepped into the river that flowed, I pray
they will be "swept along in the currents of 'Your' Spirit to the glorious
adventure of supernatural living." You have not called us to live boring
lives, but lives filled with joy and contentment like the world can never know,
and we give You all the thanks and glory for Your help each step along the way.
In your Son's mighty name I pray,
Amen
