Going Nowhere Fast

Many summers ago, I heard about a guy who longed to have a beautiful boat. He wanted it to be big and comfortable, have room to sleep and entertain, and be equipped to take trips to nearby islands. It was his dream come true, the longing of his heart. This boat, perhaps a small yacht, would be the grand prize, well-deserved for a life of hard work and achievement. When the day came for his new boat to come into the marina, it was glorious, and it was tied to the dock with great fanfare in a space he had prepared for it. He celebrated, inviting his friends and family to step aboard his amazing vessel, the one he could freely take out to sea any time he chose. 

Of course, when he first got the boat, he visited it quite often, sometimes staying overnight on it, stocking its shelves, preparing it for big adventures. He would think about it and map out places to go, knowing that one day soon he’d have a weekend free to simply live his dream. That first year, he was happy and content, because soon, he’d launch into his new life. By the next year, he had a setback that meant he couldn’t take the boat out because he had hip replacement surgery, and it had come with complications. He could barely walk that whole summer. The year after that, he retired and started living on the boat. He’d invite friends over for a fish fry and tell stories and show the maps of where he would go on his adventures, even inviting some of them to come along. He actually lived on the boat for nearly ten years, planning, dreaming, and preparing for his big adventure.

The trouble was his boat never left the marina. Never! He had it all. He had his dream, but he was going nowhere fast. What happened? 

The day the boat went up for auction, a diary was found in one of the cabinets. It was full of ideas and drawings, the best fishing places, the best time of year to visit each island. He had been filled with excitement about all that could be. Yet, one page stood out. It simply said, “Lord, you have been too kind to me. I don’t deserve this beautiful boat because I am among men, a most wretched sinner. I was not always honest in my business dealings. I did not take care of people as I should have. Though I confessed my sins, and I believe you forgave me, I am not worthy of your kindness. Let someone else take this boat on great adventures. Amen”

So, here’s the question. How many of us receive God’s forgiveness, but stay stuck somewhere in time, so we never move past our sins? God forgives us, grants us His favor so we can live redeemed lives, but we are so stuck in our unworthiness, that we never quite receive all He has for us now. When God says your sins are forgiven, it means He has removed them from Himself and from you, because they were nailed to the cross with Jesus. God wants you to move on, to feel loved, and to live in His favor. He wants you to enjoy His blessings and enjoy new things. After all, He is the Captain of your soul, and He always has great plans for your life.

You have been set free. It’s time to leave the dock.