The Flashes Beyond the Boat

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

Lake living in a house at the top of a gentle slope affords me an incredible view of the goings and comings on Logan Martin Lake. Fishermen and women often fish around our dock and close to our seawall.

While they sit patiently in their boats, casting their fishing lines into deeper water, the higher view from my sunroom sanctuary allows me to see silver flashes of fish breaking the water’s surface all around them.

I am always amazed at the patience and effort fishermen are willing to expend for something they value. They’re up before daylight to get to the right place at the right time so that they can use the right lure.

Again and again they cast. Despite the heat or cold, they’re willing to endure long stretches of waiting for that one fish to bite.

Meanwhile, I’m seeing evidence that the fish are there, even when the fishermen can’t see them.

Jesus told His disciples to follow Him. From that point forward, they would be fishing for men.

As they followed Him, hurting, searching people would cross their paths, souls just beneath the surface.

We are often surrounded by people with hurting hearts, spiritual hunger and questions. We walk alongside them without noticing what is happening just below the surface.

Some of us are willing to work incredibly hard to catch the fish God created but give little thought to the people Jesus died to save. We can be remarkably patient when pursuing things that matter to us, yet impatient - even indifferent - when it comes to the people around us.

We say a prayer, offer an invitation to church or mention the name of Jesus, and then simply decide they aren’t interested.

But God sees what we don’t.

Our job is to keep casting; God does the saving. So when our first cast comes back empty, we cast again.

Why?

Because of who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

He is our holy, merciful Savior who rescued us from our sin, the Redeemer who paid the price for our sin, the Lamb of God who gave his life, the risen Lord who conquered death, and the King who is coming again.

A true fisherman would never make one cast and decide there are no fish in the lake.

He doesn’t quit when the first cast comes back empty. He keeps casting.

As disciples of Jesus, so should we.