Will you please get out of the boat

God cannot be tied down by any religious system. He is God. He is a free God. And in that liberty He raises up whosoever He desires to manifest His glory and make known His will.

Religious and theological systems must constantly re-examine themselves to make sure that they are not misrepresenting the dynamic, active and living God of Scripture. A domesticated God is the essence of idolatry. All Christian thinking must be tested by its conformity to the One who is the Source of all life. Christ is alive. Alive forevermore! He refuses to be bound by the boxes of pious thought. Dead theory does no justice to the living Lord.

Jesus came walking to Peter on the water. “Come,” commanded the Lord. That, in natural terms, does not make any sense. It is a blatant impossibility. The rest of the disciples were pleased to stay behind in the safe boat of religion (and rightly so, some would reason). Religion always plays it safe. The man-made boat is comfortable; in it, danger is far away. But Peter's task was a perilous and hazardous one.

This same dangerous God that called Peter to the water also called Abraham to forsake all to follow Him. And Abraham did so. It was a test for the man of God, Moses, to leave Egypt behind for the cause of Christ, but Moses did so. Those men of faith dared to venture where few had gone before: Abraham, Moses and Peter demonstrate that faith is synonymous with obedience. They dared to walk on. They left conventions and domesticated gods far behind them. Their discipleship was synonymous with risk and adventure.

Abraham stepped out.

Moses stepped out.

And Peter stepped out.

Peter went water-walking. Today's believers major upon how Peter sank to justify their own lack of water-walking. But the only person who has any right to criticize Peter is the one who has walked on water and not sank.

God uses men (women) gone overboard because they can see beyond the confines of stagnant thought and theology. They are brave enough to know God for themselves. They search and seek so they receive and find. Such a person refuses to be at peace in a static structure. He (she) hungers too much for reality. Lukewarmness is his (her) arch enemy. He (she) is guided by the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of life. And this life is exciting, vigorous, unpredictable and at times, perilous.

Application:

So we must settle it in our hearts whether or not we really mean business with God. Are we content to sit behind in the boat of conventions whilst modern-day Peters are being used to transform church and society in the name of Almighty God and righteousness? We can talk about the water or we can walk upon the water. Are we water-talking or water-walking? Are we willing to be men (women) overboard?

It's time to get out of the boat.

Christ is calling for men (and women) overboard.

So, it's over to you. Will you stay or will you go?