“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:17-18
If ‘a picture says a thousands words,’ then THIS one has plenty of stories to tell. Up in the mountains there are old back dirt roads that seem to go on forever. One crosses another etc. etc. Along these roads there are ‘camps’ or ‘cabins’ that have been there for years. Getting to them easily can be tough. For several owners, the fastest way to get to their place is to ‘ford’ the creek. If the rains have swollen it’s banks, it can be a LONG and BUMPY ride around the mountains.
Our clan had been riding those muddy trails for over an hour, ending up at the ford. Pulling into the water about a foot deep, the 3 fathers looked and pondered. Finally one asked the inevitable question… “D’ya think we can make it?” Silence hung in the air until our most experienced dad simply took off, leaving the words in his wake, “let’s see!”
Running creeks are interesting. Especially when they are flowing fast. Even when the water is clear, you can SEE the rocks and the deep parts. But there is really NO way of determining HOW deep those parts really are… until you GET IN! In this Bible verse, Brother Paul is writing to us about the vast river of the Love of God… from the OTHER side! Like OUR experienced ‘Father Todd’… Paul dove in, went under and crossed over that river of Love… and he now taunts us ALL with…”C’mon over! The God’s love is FINE!”
I had shared this picture in church, and pointed out that it was snapped only AFTER the bold and successful trip across by another dad. HIS success gave courage and desire to another dad, who shared the experience with his young son. What APPEARED to be a hazard turned into a wonderful trip that we ALL chose to enjoy… over and over again.
Jesus Christ set out to deliver to us the message of God’s love from across the darkness of death. Arriving here on purpose, His mission was to win and rescue us ALL from the grip of the grave. He entered the tomb, came out the other side and BOLDLY called out…”Follow Me!” And Paul, the writer of Ephesians… did! Now PAUL stands on the other side WITH Christ, crying out to ALL of humanity…”Come on!!! God’s LOVE and GRACE are AMAZING!”
I don’t really know what it is that keeps people from jumping in after Jesus. His Word and Creation continually cry out loud and clear… “over here… over here!” MILLIONS of people have gone after Him and now cry out, “come on in… God IS GREAT!” But while most EVERYONE knows SOMEONE who has made the crossing, the majority can still be found holding back on the opposite side… pondering!
Friend… there is NO other way to cross but the cross…(John 14:6). Are YOU holding back?
