On the
flip side of things, think about Alaskan crab fishermen. There are all kinds of top ten lists of
deadliest jobs in the world, and deep sea fishing/crab fishing seems to be on
every list. There is a TV show called
the Deadliest Catch that chronicles the stories of some of these Alaskan crab
fishermen. These fishermen go to the ocean,
but they have a totally different goal in mind compared to the fun in the sun
people. Their goal is to fish for crab.
Having
a totally different goal brings about a totally different scenario of
inconveniences. They are leaving the
comfort of being able to see the shoreline. They
are not able to go back inland every time a storm hits or someone gets hurt. When ice forms on the ship from the cold
weather and water; they get out in it and knock the ice off with sledge hammers. When there is equipment malfunction; they fix
it. When people on board get injured,
they try their best to keep fishing through the pain and discomfort. They know why they are there and they are
part of the team on board that ship.
They all have the same goal; fish for crab and do not let the team down. There are many sacrifices that come with
being an Alaskan crab fisherman that the fun in the sun people will never see. It is one of the deadliest jobs in the world,
but they do it because their goal is to catch crab.
Did you
know that Jesus called out to some fishermen and said in Mark 1:17, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Jesus was not calling them for the goal of
feeling comfortable with very little sacrifice.
He was not calling them to run inland every time an inconvenience came
their way. Jesus was not calling them on
just a short-term fishing trip here and there.
Jesus was not calling them to the fun in the sun scenario.
Jesus’
calling is still going out all over the world today. Many people think they have answered this call
because they go to church or they read their Bible from time to time. However, this calling of Jesus is not for the
fun in the sun scenario for our own internal conveniences with the ultimate
goal of self-renewal and self-enjoyment.
Jesus is not concerned with the temperature setting in your sanctuary or
that someone took your seat last Sunday at church. Most of the complaints heard throughout our
traditional church goers today are from the fun in the sun people. They are inconvenienced from personal
preferences.
This
calling of Jesus is to the deadliest catch where we know there are going to be
major obstacles and major inconveniences where personal preferences are thrown
overboard when leaving the shoreline.
However, the goal is very clear; we are fishing for people. This goal cannot be achieved by keeping the
shoreline in view and having a fun in the sun mentality. Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from
your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”
If I am
going to follow Jesus and fish for people, then there are two things I must do.
First, I can no longer be selfish. I cannot push for my preferences and my
desires. Following Jesus is not about
what I want. Second, I must put all my
own preferences, desires, and ways of doing things on the cross of
sacrifice. I must die from the fun in the
sun and follow Jesus away from the comforts and conveniences the shoreline
provides. Jesus is still calling us to
fish for people. The question is, “Are
you following him where ever he is leading you no matter the sacrifices?”
Try this song as you pray to God about where he is calling you to go...
I Will Follow You
Try this song as you pray to God about where he is calling you to go...
I Will Follow You
In Christ Alone and continuing in prayer,
Chad (Senior Pastor, Henderson General Baptist Church)
Chad (Senior Pastor, Henderson General Baptist Church)
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