Following the Latest Current
Dried-out jellyfish
There was one thing that you could count on finding on every beach of PEI and
New Brunswick: An abundance of red jellyfish!
Though its name, probably derived from the jellyfish's reddish-brown coloring,
is far from unique, there is nothing else common about this particular creature.
For example, did you know that the red jellyfish spends part of its time as a
plant? It's true! Its eggs develop into a type of plant called a polyp! The
polyp has many sections, which all look identical. Over time, the top of the
polyp will pop off and turn into a red jellyfish, and each section will
eventually do the same!
Only the tentacles of jellyfish can sting, thus if you touch one by accident
lying on the beach, you won't be hurt. The red jellyfish is unique in that its
sting isn't deadly. If you come into contact with one of its tentacle, all you
will feel is a burning sensation. In order to stop it, you first take a cloth of
some kind to brush the tentacle off, and then you rub wet sand on the infected
part of the body. The sting will immediately vanish!
The jellyfish eats microscopic plant life and plankton, and its means of
propulsion is to expand and contract its cup-shaped body. This isn't a very
productive way to move, however, and the red jellyfish usually tends to find
itself following the latest water current. Unfortunately, this can be a deadly
habit!
While walking on the sandy beach at Kouchibouguac National Park in New
Brunswick, we discovered a multitude of these creatures. In fact, we had to
watch where we walked in order to not step on them! They had been following the
current, and at high tide, they had been driven up onto the beach. Now they were
desperately waiting for the next high tide to wash them back out to sea.
Meanwhile, they were being bombarded by the heat of the sun, which, if they
didn't return to the water soon enough, would eventually turn them into a baked,
crisp substance, devoid of any life. Too late they learned the hazards of
following the latest current.
We, as humans, also have the choice of whether or not to follow the latest
trends. If we are not careful, some of these can be quite deadly, especially if
they turn God's message into utter mockery. I was shocked to discover that some
churches no longer promote the gospel message. They proclaim that anyone can get
to heaven and that sin doesn't matter. Some even preach that eventually everyone
will turn into a god. God's Word, the Bible is set aside and replaced with
literature promoting their own ideas.
Some churches pretend to follow the Bible, but at the same time they put other
writings at the same level as God's Word. Every word found in the Bible is
always interpreted by their own literature. Beware of these! They are like
wolves disguised as lambs, promoting false doctrines! "Watch out for false
prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious
wolves." (Matt 7:15 NIV); "I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in
among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will
arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be
on your guard!" (Acts 20:29-31 NIV); and "For false Christs and false prophets
will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect-if that were
possible." (Mark 13:22 NIV)
Friends, anyone promoting anything besides the Bible is broadcasting a deadly
message. God's gospel is simple. Sin is deadly. We cannot be saved through our
own merits. Salvation is solely made possible through Jesus Christ. He is the
only One who can save us. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that
no one can boast." (Eph 2:8-10 NIV); and "Salvation is found in no one else, for
there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
(Acts 4:12 NIV)
Who will we follow? The latest current or God's Word made flesh?
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,
the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and
truth." (John 1:14 NIV)
Rob Chaffart
P. S. We learned the above technical information about the red jellyfish from
the interpretive signs posted along the Eco-Centre Irving Boardwalk in St-Edouard-de-Kent,
New Brunswick. My thanks go to my son for remembering everything we read!