Apples of Gold

As I was walking the shoreline one morning a lone sign planted a good distance from the shore caught my eye. It read DANGER: EXPOSED AND SUBSURFACE ROCKS. Several harmless looking rocks dotted the surface but as the tide was going out the real danger was revealed.The dark water hiding submerged rocks disappeared exposing the treacherous terrain that was previously lurking just below the surface. The obvious applications of these simple words began to scroll across my mind. The biggest obstacle I faced with this one is which way should this go?

My mom helped me to turn my life over to Jesus when I was about 3 years old. The desire to follow the 10 Commandments, as well as Biblical principles in general, came naturally. As a result, the big things, the obvious and easily observed things, were not too difficult to deal with. When it came to the subsurface stuff the challenge was and is greater. 

Most of you would likely agree that it is not difficult to appear to have a thriving, deep walk with God. There is a relatively short checklist that deals with the exposed rocks. Completing the list gives the impression that all is well, even when something is going on beneath the surface, undetectable to those around us, but devastatingly dangerous to the true status of our relationship with God. 

Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life? Why do you call me good? Jesus asked him. Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. The man replied, I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young. When Jesus heard his answer, he said, There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich. Luke 18:18-23

This man was a religious leader, respected and admired. He had the big things down, the exposed rocks, but there was something concealed in those subsurface rocks that revealed the true condition of his heart. 

Our status or position is not a good indicator of the condition of our heart. There is danger in those things others cannot see. God can see them, we know they are there; but they don’t necessarily keep us from rising to the top. The accolades of those around us can cloud the water, making it even more difficult to see the nearby danger.  

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12

 Most of us vacillate from the pitfall of overconfidence in our own ability, to the deepest unworthiness and concern that God would even want to put up with our shenanigans. Either extreme poses a real danger and threat to our spiritual health. When these boulders are not in our path things like jealousy, covetousness, disappointment, fear, anger (or one of the many others that are far too numerous to list), come to the surface and demand to be noticed. 

Thankfully, this is not all bad news. We are in the process of being made into the image of Christ. This is a long and arduous process. There are triumphs and tragedies, advances and setbacks. The goal is progress, not perfection. Verse 12 gives the warning, verse 13 brings the resolution:

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13

The rocks themselves are not the danger, our ignorance of their existence and their potential to inflict harm is. The general standard for having a heart after God is dangerously low. We can join the crowd and pretend all is well, or we can vigorously go after those rocks that are hidden from view and with God’s help, remove them. 

You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Matthew 4:13-14

We are to be laser-focused on the narrow gate. The wide path is not an option. The road is difficult but navigable. Don’t forget what we are living for:

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for the future day when God will reveal who his children really are…For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. Romans 8:18-19; 22-23