As God Asks, Do It!

 

 

It is getting close to summer and vacation trips. I usually think about escaping to the beach for summer break. Most probably I think this because I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, which is on the western tip of Long Island, and beaches were available in abundance: Jones Beach, Robert Moses Park, Fire Island, Riis Park. I learned to swim in the Atlantic Ocean at Riis Park. Dad took me out past the breakers, pointed to the lifeguard stand, told me to keep in sight of the stand and stay parallel to the shore, and swim. He also told me to be brave and to try. So, I did!

 Idyllic, yes?!? However, learning to swim is not always easy. As a swimmer, you must learn the rhythm of the waves and how to stay out of the curl as they break. You need to keep your head in the water as you stroke (and breathe away from the incoming swells). You need to build your strength and coordination in both your arms and legs to make forward progress beyond the breakers. It is not jumping up and down in the water after the wave has broken. It is not chasing the ensuing bubbles. It is not simply sleeping in the sun on your towel. Learning to swim takes concerted effort and consistent discipline, and—perhaps—a bit of courage. It is a life-long skill that I enjoy and one that has served me well.

 Teaching students to swim is another matter. Just as my father had to assess my strength and potential skill as a beginning swimmer, lifeguards and teachers must do the same with the beginners they instruct. Continuing progress as a swimmer will require the swimmer to remember the essentials of the skill, practicing them regularly to maintain form and strength, and continuing to take on new challenges courageously.

I do not think it is a stretch to make a comparison from learning a skill to growing in faith and focus as believers. King David knew this; he had lived it before God and his son. David’s instructions to Solomon as he was approaching his death included the basics of living the believing life and the intricacies of the mature Christian life: be courageous (I Kings 2:2), keep the commandments of God (I Kings 2:3); and be disciplined by being faithful (I Kings 2:4).

First, David instructs Solomon to be courageous. “Be thou strong, therefore, and show thyself a man” (vs. 2). Solomon has had the benefit of his father’s example and teaching about the things of God and leading the Children of Israel. He now had to do it –with courage. This courage is moral courage, it is obedience to God, it is spiritual strength and consistency. Keep the charge—the instructions—of the Lord, Solomon. Notice that the instructions for developing and maintaining courage come before the tests Solomon would face as king.

Dad taught me what to expect when swimming beyond the breakers; he stayed with me as I was a beginner; he told me to have courage when I had to swim by myself. God gives us this pattern multiple times in Scripture. Moses tells Joshua, “Only be thou strong and very courageous” (Deuteronomy 31:7,8). Paul tells the Corinthian believers to be “courageous and strong” (I Corinthians 16:13). Face the opposition, continue in your walk with God, stand firm in your faith. “You have overcome the world”! (I John 5:4,5). We can do it as we are brave and remember God Himself is with us.

Second, David speaks to Solomon about God’s instructions that will never change. “Keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, to keep his statues, and his commandments and his judgments” (vs. 3). This is the simplest charge: obey God. It is also a challenge to each of us as we mature in the Lord as we must allow our wills to be obedient to God’s ways and commandments. David uses two important verbs: keep (guard, observe, watch over) God’s commands and to walk (a continuous obedience and ordering of your life) in His ways. David gave Solomon the pattern for consistent living before God as he would face the tests, and the successes, of life.

This is dedicated obedience to the principles of facing the long-term challenges of living the Christian life (or pursuing a sport such as swimming) aids us today. We simply obey. The consequences and rewards are God’s to provide. The author of Hebrews simply states: “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus…” (12:1,2). It may not be easy, but we have a Savior interceding for us. We have courage and conviction.

Third, David encouraged Solomon to be faithful in continuing in the truth. “If thy children take heed to their ways, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee a man on the throne of Israel” (vs. 4). God wanted His servant Solomon to be disciplined by being faithful. David reiterates to Solomon that walking – the ordering of one’s thinking and living –in truth is imperative to spiritual success.

Once again, those who have come before us reveal we are strongly reminded to guard our faith, to discipline our living, to consider our choices, and to give the results to God. We each wish to hear from our Savior “well done.” When God asks do not be afraid, remember the disciplines of believing life, and be faithful.

Oh, when considering the analogy to swimming, the water beyond the breakers of the ocean waves provides opportunities to prove oneself. Just do it!

--Janet Hicks