Sink or Swim, I'm Diving In

Sink or swim, God calls us to dive into a life full of following Him.

A life which will get us a little beat up from the waves and currents every once in a while, BUT also a life full of adventure and fulfillment. A life requiring a trust of knowing that if we sink or swim, our God is with us and is working His purpose for our lives through the circumstances that surround. This life requires jumping in…despite fear.

Recently I had the opportunity to go whitewater rafting…It was an amazing day-long adventure of conquering rapids ranked Class 5 to Class 3. As we were approaching the last rapid of the day, our rafting guide, Jay*, gave our raft-team of 6 two options: We could chose to approach this rapid as we had all others: try to avoid flipping the raft by paddling together and make it through the rapid with almost certain safety. OR, we could choose an option with a little more uncertainty and adventure: all 7 of us to move towards the rear of the raft so that as the first wave of the rapid hit we would all be launched airborne into the water to endure the rest of the rapid waves and current alone with just a life vest and helmet.

After a full day of beating from the rapids, we were all a little hesitant to make a decision. Up to this point in the day, we had endured 7 rapids flipping unintentionally twice, two of us having to be picked up by rescue kayakers mid-rapid once, and gained a couple of new bruises along the way from flying paddles. It was tempting to take the easier path at this point: just paddle together and safely end the day with some fun memories and a couple of inevitable pains from the river. In fact we had every right at this point in our minds to choose this option given our bruises, sunburns and sore muscles. Yet, for each one of us, we felt that by choosing this easier, more secure and comfortable option, we would be missing out on something, we would be ending the day on the river with a sense of unfulfillment and what-ifs. The second option definitely offered more adventure, more promise of fulfillment, as well as potentially more pain and discomfort. We couldn't resist. Despite fears creeping in and looks of concern all around the raft, we all nodded and agreed to not hold back take the adventure…sink or swim, we were diving in.

After hitting the water and making it up for air the first time, the rest of that rapid was the most fun I had all day. Getting tossed to and fro by currents, going under and out of the waters, passing my friends who were also frantically taking and holding breaths as they experienced their own individual adventures, trying to remember everything Jay had taught us earlier to make it safely through…I laughed so hard as I climbed back into the comfort of the raft after making it safely through with the biggest smile on my lips and stories on my mind, as well as a couple of bruises on my arms and face.

Making the conscious choice to get ourselves out of the boat on that last rapid despite our fears and concerns was probably the best decision we made that day. You know what, even knowing now the hardships and pain that came with that decision, I would make that same choice all over again. The sense of fulfillment, no regrets and fun definitely outweighed any of the sufferings or fear I experienced.

The rich young ruler that we find in Mark 10 had a similar decision to make…no, he didn't have to choose how to head down a rapid, but he did have to choose between two possible ways of living: a life of comfort, knowns, but also unfulfillment; or a life of adventure, fulfillment, but also challenges. He chose the first, he chose to stay in the boat and leave this earth unfulfilled, wanting more, but not willing to let go and enter into a life of fullness. He let fear dictate his choice. He wasn't willing to give up all of his earthy possessions and wealth which gave him a false sense of security, comfort and independence. Jesus asked him straight up to let go, to move to the back of the  boat and get ready for the most uncertain, most adventurous, most fun, most fulfilling life possible of following Him, a life that would also require dependence on Him and trust of His provision and purpose and plan no matter what happens, a life okay with challenges and unknowns, a life okay with sinking or swimming, a life of freedom in Christ.  The rich young ruler turns Jesus down and walks away sorrowful, missing out, and afraid to let go, wanting only to safely glide through the rapids of life. He held back from Jesus. He didn't make the dive.

Jesus calls us to make that same decision: Will we let go of our boats, will we dive into a life of following Him? Will we embrace the challenges and hardships that come our way trusting that no matter what happens, He is in control of our circumstances, our rapids, sink or swim? Or, will we let fear dictate our decisions, our motives and actions, let fear hold us back? Will we let fear of the unknown, fear of the challenges ruin our lives and drive us away from ALL that the Lord has planned for us? "It's gonna be wild. It's gonna be great. It's gonna be full of Him."

Let's move to the back of our boats, our boats full of  false senses of identities and securities apart from Christ, and lets be willing to let go. Sink or swim, let's dive on in.

Life will be messy, you're going to get wet, maybe not know which way is up sometimes or which way to go, and even feel weak and overwhelmed…but you know what; it's going to be so worth it because it is the life that the Lord has intended us to live, the life of fulfillment  and adventure He has called each of us to. It is a life of love and devotion and trust. "Live a live worthy of the calling you have received." (Eph 4:1) A life where we depend upon Him, find our identity, our purpose, our security in Him alone and not our boats, and not restrained by our fears and insecurities. God wants us to jump into our lives, circumstances, and the people around us head first, unrestrained. That's how we make disciples of all nations, investing in other around us with no restraints, with no fears, and with no excuses. That’s how we truly make the most of this life for and with Christ. That's how we dive in. So, wherever you are at and whatever you are doing, don't hold back.  

Peter walked on water, will you dive on in?

"I'm diving in
I'm going deep
In over my head I wanna be
Caught in the rush
Lost in the flow
In over my head I wanna go
The river's deep
The river's wide
The river's water is alive
So sink or swim
I'm diving in
I'm diving in"

"Dive", by Steven Curtis Chapman