Turning the Ship Around (blog)
Every summer I vacation with extended family at a beach house in North Carolina (OBX!) We're an eclectic bunch, all arriving with different goals in mind for the week. Some sleep in while others rise early to walk the beach. One likes the pool, another the bike paths, and another just hanging around the house.We know we need a group activity, but mobilizing everyone feels like trying to turn a big cruise ship around in the ocean. Just deciding where to go can be a struggle. In the end we remember the real reason we came together, and that we'll all need to throw some personal preferences overboard if we're ever going to arrive at destination Meaningful Relationship.The Lord is expert at mobilizing people for movement. My Bible study group is marveling at this, as we take a fresh look at God's Word and how the eclectic collection of books of history and prophecy all fit together.After shipping Adam and Eve out of Eden for their sin, God called Abram into Canaan, saying "To your offspring I will give this land" (Genesis 12:7). "No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham" (17:5). And so God began the process of turning things around and moving people along.What a process! Three million people moving out of Egypt and into Canaan, with some desert wandering along the way. God led them all by pillars of cloud and fire and (even more miraculously) by Moses and Aaron. He gave the people The Law, but they couldn't keep it. So He moved them again, into exile in Babylonia. God used prophets to turn the people's hearts back around to Him there, and then He moved them home again to the Promised Land.In all of it God worked patiently, revealing and advancing His Plan for His people and moving them closer to their real destination of Restored Relationship with Him. In time He sent His Son Jesus into the world, to set that relationship right once and for all."You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas (which, when translated, is Peter)" and means rock (John 1:42). With those Words, Jesus turned one man's life completely around. Leaving his nets and boat, Peter would now 'fish' for men.And did Jesus ever move him, and the other disciples too! From Galilee to Cana to Jerusalem to Samaria and back again (among other places). They witnessed His ministry, mourned His suffering and death for the sin of the world on The Cross, and rejoiced in His glorious Resurrection and Ascension. Then, moved in their hearts and minds by the Holy Spirit, Peter and the others formed the Christian Church.God is still turning people around and moving them along today, through His Word and His Church. By faith in Jesus, God moves them to turn away from their sinful, selfish ways and to turn to Him for forgiveness and salvation."Follow me!" Jesus says, (John 21:19) and with those Words He mobilizes people, bringing them together and leading them on a journey to all new horizons.