Sailing the Seas

Bible Reading: 1 John 2:15-17

When our children were young, every day after school, they would play in a nearby park until sundown. Their playmates included children of watchmen, domestic helpers, and schoolmates. The current generation spends most of its time indoors, either playing video games or attending classes, with little time left for outdoor activities. Thus, the children grow up with zero friends. Parents are happy to think that their children are not learning bad habits, bad words, or developing inappropriate friendships.

When they become adults, their parents expect them to suddenly be able to interact with everyone, develop excellent social skills, and become popular, so that they can excel and succeed in life. However, the children are unable to do that. Then, they become reclusive, developing psychological complications! 

A ship is designed to sail the seas. The depth of the sea and the strength of the waves do not bother them. As long as water stays outside the ship, it moves, it serves, it transports, and it thrives, fulfilling the purpose for which it was designed! But the moment water begins to fill it, the ship sinks. Because the water destroyed it, we cannot keep the ship on dry land! 

That is a picture of us as believers! 

We are created to live in the world—to be active and useful in fulfilling God’s purposes here. But the moment we are corrupted by the values and compromises of the world, we begin to sink spiritually. Children have to be taught to discern what is good and what is evil and right and wrong early. From a young age, they have to be taught biblical values and encouraged to please God always. Then, we will not have to insulate them from the world and thus destroy them! It would be of great help to them as adults, too!

Jesus prayed for the disciples, saying, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” (John 15:15). Jesus knew our children, and we would walk through a culture that opposes truth and holiness. God does not want to pull us out of the world but to keep us from being polluted by it. When we live by God’s standards in a God-pleasing way, He will keep us from the evil one.

My friend, guard your heart from the values of the world. Stay afloat. Sail strong. May the Lord help us all.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep my heart from compromise and renew my mind daily with Your Word. Keep me from the ways of the world so that you can use me for Your glory. Amen.