As I sit looking out the window from our timeshare the blinds are partly closed to help keep out some of the brightness from this clear, blue sky day outside. Looking out the window caused me to think and apply the sermon I just heard from the North Shore United Methodist Church at Canyon Lake. The blind reminds me of how we put blinders on to keep the light of Jesus Christ from shining into our lives.
The pastor at the church used a very familiar life situation to all of us as an illustration. She talked about her childhood and climbing the ladder to the high diving board. I can well remember being in that very same situation. The part about getting up on that diving board, walking out on to the end of it and looking down at how far the water seemed to be away from my toes hanging on to the end of that board. At the time it seemed like something that I could never overcome. That I would never be able to make that leap of faith into the water below.
As I thought about that sermon and that leap of faith I had to apply it to my life. I can remember many times refusing to take that leap of faith off of the high diving board of Christian faith. There are many out there in the world who have the same experiences with the real high diving board and water as well as the leap of faith that says we as Christians are willing to trust in our God and leap into the life that Christ has for us.
As we take one step at a time in our faith climb we can gain strength and knowledge of who God wants us to be. Looking up that ladder building our courage we must know that there is the living water waiting for us to plunge into. Jesus tells the woman at the well that if she had asked Him for a drink He would have given her the living water that would never let her thirst again.
When I finally made that leap of faith off of that high diving board I immediately knew that I could and would do it again and again. It was the same with my Christian faith. When I finally gained the courage to leap into the living water my life and my life witnessed changed forever.
Have you the courage to take the leap of faith into that living water?
Take the plunge and live the faith. It really is cool and refreshing.
Pastor Randy
Wesley United Methodist Church, Orange TX 