The Deep End

Often times I compare my spiritual relationship with God to the time when I was a child and began swimming in the deep end of the pool.

When we are born, it takes us forever to learn how to walk.  Then we somehow navigate through life with the miracle of balancing this huge amount of weight on two tiny little feet.  If you think about it, walking itself is a miracle all by itself.  

Then I ventured into swimming.  I have always had the safety and security of dry land.  I would wade into the pool, and still feel the comfortable, reassuring ground beneath my feet.  This is like when I was first introduced to the things of the spirit.  This is similar to when I first start exploring faith. If God let me down, I could always fall back on the safety of dry ground.

I began watching the big kids having so much fun doing what looks seemingly impossible.  I would see them diving off the diving board, and doing all sorts of cool maneuvers into the deep end of the pool.  The part of the pool that is roped off.  A person can only navigate that end of the pool, if they can swim.

I wanted to go to the deep end ever since I could see it.  I would cheat. I would hold on to the edge of the pool and duck my head underneath the rope to at least be in the area of the deep.  However, I couldn't swim.  I couldn’t navigate in the deep end and I wanted to so badly.  

I would let go of the edge to see if I would sink, and very quickly grab the edge if I became afraid.  This is similar to 'trying out' God and then falling back on what I carnally trusted.

Over time, I finally made it to the deep end.   Now it is the only place to be.

In this past year, I have learned to trust God even more.  I am learning that He truly is my provider.  I am learning more and more that His word is better than leaning to my own understanding.  I am learning that I don’t have to hold on to those things that hold me back from what He has for me.

God is asking every one of us to let go of the edge of the pool and swim in the deep things of HIM.


Come on in. The water is fine.

Stop trying to repent without GOD!

One thing  I have observed in Christian circles is the never ending dilemma of wanting to repent before coming to God.  God offers another prescription.  I was pondering this during one of my recent podcasts about Christians and Iniquity.

In the following verses a pattern emerges that we are to seek God and then He grants us the ability to repent.

Matthew 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

This is probably the first scripture that got me to meditating on this precept.  A sincere desire for righteousness precedes being filled.  Who is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)?  Jesus Authors the Word that we stand on and then He Finishes the work.


John 8:31-32  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  (32)  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Note that in order to become a disciple one must first continue in the words of Christ.  Then in turn one can know the truth.  And THEN one is made free.  A specific chronology of events is presented.

2 Timothy 2:25-26  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;  (26)  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Note that God grants repentance to the knowledge of the Truth that makes us free.  Only then the believer receives the ability to recover themselves out of the snare of the devil.

James  4:7-8  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  (8)  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Again one can see a  possible chronology of submitting to God and then being able to resist the devil.  Drawing nigh to God is emphasized.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The theme continues.  Seek God's face through humility and prayer.  God's character is the same yesterday as it is today (Hebrews 13:8).  If this lines up with the other scriptures we see the character of God will then grant repentance, forgive sins, and heal.

Apparently the theme as laid out in scripture is come to God and He will clean you up.  One can never get Holy enough to come to God.

If that were possible, we wouldn't need a Savior.