The Boat, the Backdrop, and the Two Elements that Matter

Have you heard the story of Peter walking on the water? Here's a quick review (or introduction).

Peter and his crew were out on a boat, taking a break from the crowd and ministry. A storm started brewing, and Jesus came walking towards the boat on the water. Peter thought it was Jesus, but wasn't quite sure (there was a storm going on, you recall); he asked, "If it's You, tell me to come to You on the water." Jesus said, "Come on!" Peter heaved himself out of the boat onto the water and started walking on water. (Way cool!) Well, you didn't forget the storm factor, did you? Peter did. For a while, as long as his eyes were on Jesus, the storm was just background noise. But then, he sort of noticed the wind blowing, the water churning, and realized, "People don't normally walk on water." Boom. He started to sink. However, Jesus was there and came to his rescue, and then they walked on water back to the boat. It's a great testimony.

So, who are you in this story? Are you a person in the boat? Maybe you watch a lot of Peters in your life with awe and a little envy. "He's doing something amazing," you think to yourself. "I could never do that." Your courage fails you. So you watch from the boatside. Longing but afraid. Maybe you're a critic and a cynic. You say to yourself, "Ha! That Peter is an idiot! Watch when he drowns. It'll be his own fault." You wait for it to happen so you can tell someone "I told him so." I hope this isn't you. Maybe just someone you know. Maybe?

Possibly, you're Peter. A little on the looney side. Crazy, some say. A tad-bit detached from the mundane, limited reality that others see and live. You are just edgy enough to believe that something extraordinary could happen today, and it could happen to you! You're a boat-abandoner. You spot Christ through the storm. Despite the wind, the rain, and the deafening sound of the angry sea. Through the depressing backdrop, you spot the Light, and you call to Him. You say, "I want to be where You are." And The Light says, "Come on."

But there's still this storm. Don't look at it. Eyes on the Light. Water doesn't work on you. It can't pull you down, because the Only Power is commanding the water to lift you up. And so while everybody in the boat is watching--with envy, with awe, with indignation, and whatever else they can muster up that isn't faith--you walk through the storm to the Prize. It doesn't mean you won't falter along the way. After all, you've got to give the spectators a little bit of a show. Something worth watching. But in the end, you get what you wanted. Because your faith and His power are the only two elements that matter. They are all you need to have an experience that is solely yours which no one can take away. An eternal triumph that will never tarnish or fade.

So what are you waiting for?
Lift. Leap. Push.
The water feels good under your feet.
Wave bye-bye to the nice people in the boat, honey.
You heard what He said.
"Come."