So the first hurricane to hit Florida in 11 years came crashing ashore early this morning. It reminded me of living in the Florida Keys for 7 years. When caught offshore in my boat by a storm the seas would be raging, and the huge waves would be banging and jarring the boat so hard that I could feel it in my teeth on practically every wave. It can be a rough uncomfortable ride and if the wind picks up too much, particularly from the Northeast, it can be a “bear” to safely navigate.
Living on the ocean is interesting to say the least; it can be very peaceful or it can be a raging monster. It’s amazing to me to see the ocean change from a flat glassy “slowly moving lake” to a vicious beast with huge unrelenting and powerful waves that crash on the shoreline pulverizing anything in their path. Dependent upon its mood, the ocean can be beautiful beyond words with azure and cobalt shades of blue. It can be crystal clear and one can see a hundred feet down, or it can be nasty dark grey, cloudy and filled with debris and mire churning throughout its angry restless body.
The Bible compares the wicked to a troubled sea. I think this is a perfect description. I can personally relate to this analogy, because there was a time that my lifestyle was wicked. The thing I remember the most about it was that there was never any real peace in my life, and the restlessness that I felt was so overbearing that I was miserable to the point of being suicidal.
Often when I watch a restless angry sea it reminds me of the feeling that was inside me during that time; it was a feeling of unmitigated rage, churning turmoil, and restlessness, with my life sinking in the deep slimy mire and dirt of the world reminiscent of being caught in a rip current and being carried further and further from the peaceful shores, doomed to drowning in an abyss of sin.
Fast forward to now and the peace that I enjoy in my life and it’s a vivid difference from what I once knew and all that goes with that lifestyle. To me, few things in life are more enjoyable than being out on a beautiful ocean smelling the sea breeze, or relaxing in the woods and soaking in the warmth of the sun and basking in the peace that can only come from God almighty our Savior.
The good news is that we have a choice. We can choose to receive peace in life which only comes from God and surpasses all human understanding, or we can choose not to accept Jesus and endure the restlessness, lack of peace, mire and dirt that accompanies that foolish decision.
Sometimes those who live evil lives “appear” to an outsider to be living the “good life” amongst the “beautiful people”.
Hmmm . . . The Bible clearly debunks that notion. If you desire peace in your life, (and surely you do), then choose God. God states, (as you can see for yourself below), that there is no peace for the wicked. Follow Christ and not the world, and you’ll never regret it.
Smooth sailing today! Have a great weekend and go to church on Sunday.
Isaiah 57:20
But the wicked are like the
troubled sea, when it cannot rest,
Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
“There is no peace,” Says my God, “for the wicked.”
September 2 2016 – Click here to listen