As a child, when my mom would take us to the beach, we always packed fruit. For some reason fruit always tastes better to me on a hot sunny day. Didn’t matter what kind, we did not discriminate against berries, melons or citrus fruits. Pay it forward 40 years later, I continue the same tradition as an adult. Just the other day I packed a fresh cucumber salad, some watermelon, a few other choice things and peaches. It was a rather hot and muggy kind of day at the shore. One where you can only survive by putting your chair in the water, as you feel the cool water wash upon the shoreline, sweeping over your toes. Every once in a while, a bigger wave might come through and if you are fortunate it will splash more of your heavily heated body. Despite the minor inconvenience of getting up to retrieve your food, making trips back and forth the chair, it was a great day.
On one of those random trips, I grabbed the nostalgic peach. For whatever reason, I only like to eat them on the beach. So, I grabbed my peach and headed for the chair. I enjoyed it of course, however when I was finished, I was left with this slimy “pit”. I figure ah I may as well hold on it, while I relish the flavor that lingered. AS I sat there holding this large seed in my hand, I questioned planting it in my backyard, as COVID-19 has turned me into quite the gardener. I googled how to plant the pit, what time of year is good, etc. All of my planning came to a halt when a large crowd of seagulls came swooshing down. Like most fellow New Jerseyeans, I panicked, jumped up and said, “I’m going to put this away, so these darn birds don’t attack me. They have a tendency to get quite aggressive down here! And that was that. I put it away and forget all about it. Never gave it to much thought, even chucked in the trash when I got home to remember it no more. Now I’m quite certain you have much better things to do than read my story about a meaning peach pit. But what if it’s not?
Fast forward to several days later, I set an intention to spend time with God and read his word. I look at the arrows that fly by during these times we are living in and I ask God how can I help? Lord there has to be way. You planted me here at this specific time in history and I have such a burden for people who are left not knowing you. I also asked how we can dissect this into simple terms that people who read and have little understanding of the gospel understand and receive you. Things began to stir in my heart as they often do, so I dug into his word.
Allow me to try and break this down. There is nothing worse than when you go to the doctor and they speak all of these medical terms and you nod your head not understanding a word that was spoken. Futile and a waste of time. What is common amongst everyone during this time the pandemic are laws, rules and regulations. Every place you go has a different set of rules and you try your best not to break the code, nor offend anyone. Simply trying to respect the rules set into place. Now that would be an easy assignment if the rules were clear, however lines get a little blurred the more to step back into society after being in isolation. In the same manner we know the Bible has laws set into place, not for punitive purposes but to keep us safe. Similar to COVID these rules are set to protect your health and the health of those around you. The word of God is not much different. But being human as we are, we often present a skewed interpretation of who God is. Some try to police others to see who is breaking the laws, not out love but judgement. Some break out their sin-o-meters and compare themselves to one another in order to boost their own moral. Human, we are human. Every single one us! Imperfect people who try to follow a perfect God. We are no different from those who walked with Christ! Still people trying to formulate our relationship with God on our human terms. None the less, we need laws. Laws set limits and keep us safe. But what does the word of God have to say about the law? Romans 5:20 in the message bible says, “All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn’t and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it’s sin versus grace, grace wins, hands down.” So, does this give us the free pass to go about doing wrong, relying on the fact that God will forgive us? Absolutely not! However, when you come to realize that each and every one of us will fall short of trying to walk a line of perfection, we know that God is able to extend his grace to help or assist us to fight. The fact of the matter is, without Christ none of us are good enough. We try to be good, which benefits humanity, however our good behavior doesn’t grant us a passport to become a citizen of heaven. It is his will that none of us perish but all would have eternal life (John 3:16). This is also the basis for our walk with him. Remember the peach pit? Galatians 3:19 says, “What then was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgression until the SEED to whom was promise was made would come”
That seed, Jesus! What God already knew was that we were incapable of perfection, so he sent a spotless lamb to stand in our place before a holy God.
What good would a seed be if it weren’t planted? It would wither up and die. Dry out and be good for nothing. What happens when that seed is planted in your life? It grows. Through time and experience with God that seed begins to flourish, and we then realize what Paul says, “And I know that nothing good live in me, that is my sinful nature, I want to do what is right, but I can’t”. Our intentions may be good but try as we might we will all fail. Without the seed of Christ in our lives we really have nothing! No good thing as he said. We live in a world troubled with chaos and when put under enough pressure we will all break more than a few times. I know for myself I fail on a daily, but I continually try. Spending time with God is the only way to produce any kind of fruit. His presence is more than enough to sustain us through these difficult times.
The choice is yours, as well as it is mine. Remember when I threw away that peach pit? I urge you to accept that seed of Christ. He paid the price for all us. As that seed lives in you, you will develop a new life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone, a new life has begun!” Are you looking for a fresh start? Tired of the news, media and daily life impacting with fear of the future? Accept the seed of eternal life today! He will start a new thing within you, that is full of life, hope and love. One day you will look in the mirror and not even recognize yourself anymore. The wrinkles on your face, will become renewed. The fruit of your soul will be sweet, like a fresh peach on a hot summer’s day.
IN DEEP WATERS 