Floating Upstream?

Thursday, November 17, 2011
Floating Upstream? If I were swimming in a river going upstream against the current and I decided to stop swimming and merely float for a few minutes, which direction would I immediately begin to go? Would I magically continue upstream, going against the direction of the current even though I was simply floating?
I’m sure we all understand that if I were to stop putting effort into going upstream I would automatically begin to float downstream, right? I would be at the mercy of the current, going wherever it chose to take me. Even if I weren’t actively swimming with the current, I wouldn’t be sitting still. My decision to not intentionally swim against that current would be a decision to float along with it.
I’m pretty confident that’s a great analogy of our relationship with God. Scripture tells us that if we will “draw near to God He will draw near to us.” There’s some effort involved in “drawing near,” friend.
Every relationship takes work – and effort. Please understand that I am not, even for a moment, insinuating that we gain a relationship with Christ because of our work. We understand clearly that the Word says it’s “by grace we are saved through faith, that not of ourselves, it’s the gift of God and not of works so that no one can boast.” That’s Ephesians 2:8-9, and we can all quote that well. I challenge you, however, to look up that text so you can read the next verse. You see, verse 10 speaks of the “good works” that God “created us” for.
If I want to be actively pursuing God and in a growing relationship with Him, it takes some work on my part. I can’t allow myself to fall prey to the false notion that once we know Christ we can simply float through life and be drawing closer to Him at the same time. If I’m not investing my time in the Word, prayer, giving, serving – basically nourishing my relationship with Him – I’m drifting. If I’m drifting, it’s important for me to understand that the natural direction of man’s drift is away from God, not toward Him. Therefore, if I’m not actively pursuing God, I’m drifting farther away.
I believe with all my heart, based on the Word, that once a person is in a relationship with Christ that they’ve received by grace, that we are also kept by grace and enjoy the blessing of security. However, intimacy and closeness isn’t guaranteed simply because we have a relationship. I dare say that there are many who know Christ that are walking defeated, miserable lives because they are being lived in great distance from Him – simply because they are floating.
So today, ask yourself if you’ve become a floater in your relationship with Christ. How much time do you spend with Him? How actively are you pursuing closeness with the Almighty? A great place to start is to open up the Word and do some reading, then tell God how much you want to know Him more.
It’s time to start swimming upstream. After all, I’ve seen where the river ends, and the current you might be currently floating in doesn’t lead anywhere very pretty or pleasant.



That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

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