Knowing Where You Are Going
Florence Chadwick was a world-famous swimmer. In her lifetime, she successfully swam several extremely difficult distances including the English Channel. She decided that she was going to be the first woman to swim the 26-mile span from Catalina Island, California to the California mainland. Florence went into the icy cold Pacific with several boats surrounding her, which would spot for sharks and report on her progress to the world as she attempted her historic swim. Hour after hour, she swam. Fifteen hours and 45 minutes into her trek it got very dark, a thick fog set in, and she could only see a few feet ahead of where she was swimming. Finally, she waved to the boats and said, “I can go no farther, the fog is just too thick. I am done.” They hoisted her out of the water less than half a mile from the coast of California. All that effort and yet she didn’t quite make it.
One phrase that has really stuck with me as we have been studying the book of Revelation together is patient endurance. It is mentioned seven times. Unfortunately, I fear that often Christ-followers give up just a bit too soon. When they do, they miss out on the blessings of faithfulness. In a way, that is one of the most important themes in the book of Revelation – that we need to persevere, to never ever give up.
By giving us the rest of the story, Jesus is showing us what it means to persevere until the very end. But let’s be honest, patience is required. It takes a lot of hope, endurance, and grit to keep going when times get difficult. Jesus modeled it perfectly when He knew the challenges of the cross were on the horizon. He knew that it would be horrible. He knew that He needed to be prayed up for the pain ahead. He knew that it would cost Him everything…but He pressed on, and so can we.
I love the fact that Florence Chadwick tried the swim a second time, just a few months later. Once again, when she got in the water it looked bright and sunny, but after about 12 hours an even heavier fog set in. She couldn’t see, but this time she kept swimming. She kept going. This time she not only swam from Catalina Island to the coast, but she swam there and beat the world record by 2.5 hours. When she arrived at the California coastline she was interviewed and was asked, “Last time you tried this, you quit. How did you make it this time?” She said, “This time it was easy because I kept a mental picture of the California coastline in my mind. And if I didn’t lose sight of where I was going, I knew that I could handle the trip getting there.”
I believe that “knowing where we are going” makes all the difference. I believe that this is why we have been given the promises of Scripture which tell us that God finishes what He has started, and that it is going to turn out very well for those who know where they are going and remain faithful to the end.
Expectantly,
Shawn
P.S. Please join me in praying for Sheri Mohorcic, whose sister Debbie Frederick passed away last week (click for the obituary). We are also lifting up Mary Stoakes in prayer, as we join her in mourning the passing of her husband, Bob Stoakes. A Celebration of Life service will be held for Bob at Hope Church this Saturday, March 15 at 12:00 PM. Visitation begins at 11:00 AM.
