Those Who Brave the Elements: Awake Series, Part 2
Let's take a moment to consider the kinds of dangers that a fisherman must face
on a daily basis:
Because the ocean is prone to sudden, thick fog, fishermen who set out from
their fishing vessels in dories are constantly at risk of losing sight of their
boats. In addition, the sudden squalls and storms quickly overtake fishing
vessels, especially when their holds are so full of fish that they lie low in
the water, and especially, as is most often the case, if the boat is older and
less seaworthy! Danger lurks around every corner, but these don't stop them from
fulfilling their purpose in life: fishing to feed others. Even though the
fishing industry is rated as one of the most dangerous occupations in the world,
it doesn't faze them. They have a job to do, and they will make sure they do it
well!
In the olden days before the marine radio was invented, the dangers were even
more pronounced. Numerous vessels damaged by storms drifted for weeks before
being found. Anxious wives and children waited desperately for the return of
their spouses and fathers.
Statistics in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, indicates the loss of 80 vessels in that
town alone, with nearly half of them losing all hands onboard. A total of 650
fishermen from Lunenburg alone have been lost at sea. Multiply this statistic by
the number of tiny sea towns in the world, and the numbers of fishermen lost at
sea becomes staggering!
To be a fisherman you need two things: faith and persistence. Maybe we could
learn a lesson or two from them, especially after Jesus' famous question: "When
the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8 NIV)
As I look around me, I ponder what has happened to the heroes of faith.
Too often we put the words of the negative media above the Word of God, creating
undue anxiety. Too many times we put the promises of tempting temptations above
the promises of God, creating a life of defeat instead of one of victory. More
often than not we trust the discouraging depths of adversity rather than the
faithfulness of God. As a result, we create excessive and unnecessary worries.
Is it possible that we are deceiving ourselves?
I have noticed that faith and worry cannot go hand in hand. We either have faith
or we have worries. Worrying is a sign that we do not trust God. Yes, we are in
big trouble as more are those who worry (Me included!) than those who don't!
But Jesus is quite clear on this topic: "If that is how God clothes the grass of
the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not
much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What
shall we eat?' Or 'What shall we drink?' Or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans
run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them."
(Matt 6:30-33 NIV)
When we have an as caring of a Father as our God, we have absolutely no reason to
worry. If God was willing to sacrifice His own son in order to save us from sin,
we can be guaranteed that He will always come through for us!
I guess that our over-worrying has made us unintentionally drift away from what
faith truly means. Have we really deceived ourselves so much?
"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and
slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk. (1 Peter
2:1-2 NIV)
"Do not deceive yourselves." (1 Cor 3:18 NIV)
It is time that we, too, face the elements with as much faith and persistence as
these fishermen. Let's get rid of the unnecessary burden known as worry. It only
hinders us from reaching our full potential in God!
Rob Chaffart