You know, a shark can teach us a lot!
Okay, where did that come from?! Sharks! Hi, I'm Joni Eareckson Tada and I love the way the Bible tells us humans that we can learn wisdom from animals, yes, even something as small and insignificant as an insect (like Proverbs 6:6 says: "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise"). An ant? We can learn from an ant? Well, God thinks so. What’s more, we are invited in his Word to learn from a number of such creatures. In the book of Proverbs alone, we can benefit from considering rock badgers, locusts, lizards, dogs, mules, horses, goats, sheep, lions, vipers, eagles, and even leeches!
But my friend, Pastor Bob Bjerkaas, has added to that list. He believes we can learn a lot from a shark, even though they never made it to the book of Proverbs. Bob gives a little background to the idea when he says:
"Sharks are almost always moving forward with their mouths open. As with all fish, their Creator designed their gills so that in order to breathe, water has to constantly be moving through and over the gill surface so that oxygen can be extracted from the water. The shark’s gills don't ‘flap’ like small fish do. No, sharks can't move water through their gills; instead they need to move their gills through water. So in other words, sharks have to keep swimming forward in order to breathe, in order to stay alive."
Now keep that shark in mind as I read Philippians 3 where the apostle Paul writes, ‘But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.’ Oh, boy, friend, if there is one thing Paul does, it is to move forward! To press on! Swim and strain toward what is ahead! Paul neither relishes in past accomplishments nor does he sink in regret over past failures. He ‘forgets what is behind’ and moves ahead. In fact, Paul uses lots of other verbs that move us into the day, like make every effort and strive and do your best and push ahead and forge forward.
Now here’s the point: Christians are no more designed to remain static in their spiritual lives than sharks were designed to stay suspended in the ocean. We were both created to move forward through our elements—in fact, we must move forward, or we will sink.
Or like the shark, we’ll die! We will spiritually suffocate. And maybe, just maybe, that’s the reminder you need today. Because you know—I certainly know from experience—how easy it is to get stuck in the past. You just can’t let go of certain memories; certain painful ones, especially … A friend has disappointed you, your spouse has slighted you, someone at church snubbed you, or someone did you dirty at work … and you can’t let it go. Or, you’re still relishing in some wonderful accomplishment in the past; still resting on your laurels. Well, the afterglow is gone, friend …
It is a new season: a time of renewal and refreshment. Spring is here and so is a fresh opportunity to choose a new (or a renewed!) direction in life. This season let's choose forward. Let’s make the month of May a season of "onward and upward!" Join me today in pressing on and straining forward! And as you do, think about a new direction for your summer—consider volunteering with us at a Joni and Friends’ Family Retreat. For all the details, go to joniandfriends.org. We’d love to have you join us, because, like a shark, understand the absolute necessity of moving forward in the faith.
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