Leave the Island

Sometimes as Christians we can detach ourselves from the world and draw ourselves into a bubble. This can be like living on our very own self-contained island. We try to control all the influences in our lives, and we should be very careful. But, we can retreat from the world to the extent that we are eliminating our influence for Christ. And doesn’t the world so desperately need Him.

We are suppose to be a big part of reaching out. That is why the church is in the world. But I am afraid much of the time, even in my own life, I am trying to live on my own little island. The Island of Stone – The Island of Refuge – The Island of Contentment.

 Often times we retreat to our island, we lick our wounds and then we shrink back and let the world go by. After all isn’t it someone else’s problem? Most people aren’t worth fighting for we might think. But, is that what Jesus thinks?

Jesus loves, even those, we think are unworthy. He loved them enough to die for them. And most importantly He loves them as much as He loves the obedient child of God.

It is good to retreat for a time to refresh ourselves in the presence of the Lord. We find Jesus doing that many times. But we, just as He, cannot remain there.

We have been given the gift of eternal life. We believe His promises. We know He will never forsake us nor leave us. The lost do not know. Stop and think about that for a moment. What if we didn’t have Him.

Without Him we would believe the lies of the enemy that say we are worthless and unlovable. We would believe that there is no God and that if He does exist He sure doesn’t care about me.

Let us throw out the fishing line of compassion and step into the world, not as a resident, but as a example of what God walking among us should be. We have His Spirit within us. We must walk with
Him among our fellow man.

We must step into that deep ocean of corruption in a fallen world and show them that our God still walks on water. We have the God given capacity. But, we will have to get off the island.

Make no mistake we will go out and come back wounded as if we have done battle. Because we are in a battle. We must then retreat back to our island asking God to comfort us. And then maybe our lives will look a little more like Jesus in that moment then they did before.

He went out. He did Gods will. He returned to the Father for comfort and sustenance to go again another day.

We must go to teach them. We must go to tell them. We cannot draw them to us. We must go to them. We must leave the island. We don’t have to live off the island but we must go.

Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but those who believe to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 10:38-39 NKJV