Last weekend Debbie and I were in Charleston, SC for a nice Valentines weekend. We walked for 9 hours around the city, through the market place, and toward the harbor. From where we were standing, we could see a decommissioned aircraft carrier, submarine, and a destroyer. This took me back to my days in the navy when I was a destroyer off the coast of Vietnam.
It also reminded me of an incident that took place while in port in the Philippians. Today I want to share that story with you. Some of you may have heard me before tell this story. If so, just bear with me today.
When I was in the Navy, I was in my early twenties. Like so many other young men, this was my first time away from home. I must admit that at this time in my life I was not a Christian. In fact, I was far from it. I leaned more toward believing in no God at all. I soon found myself more comfortable around the “wild bunch” than the Christians. So while the good guys would go sight seeing when we went to a port, I was inclined to head for the more seedy side.
Two particular guys would talk to me without being preachy. We had a few debates but they were always friendly. Each time we hit a port these two, Sandy and Jeff, would invite me to tag along with them so see the local sights. They persisted long enough for me to agree.
We were docked at the naval base and decided to spend a day in Manila, the capital city. To get from the naval base to Manila you would ride in a water taxi. It was a ferryboat that transported mostly workers to and from Manila to various locations. These boats were not very big and set low in the water. In fact, if the water was choppy or it hit someone else’s wake you stood the chance of getting soaked.
Jeff had an unusual habit of carrying a sponge ball with him wherever he went. He was constantly squeezing and bouncing this ball. This particular day the ball bounced away from him when the boat hit a wave. We were a bit surprised when a small dog came bringing it back. As I looked around to see where the dog had come from, I noticed a young Filipino girl with a frightened look watching us. It did not take me long to realize the dog was hers.
Jeff and Sandy kept playing ball with the dog even though I had pointed out the fact that the owner seemed a bit scared. They would take turns bouncing the ball while the puppy would retrieve it. Again, the ship hit a wave and the ball went into the water. Immediately the puppy jumped into the water. Grabbing the ball, he swam back to the boat where my two friends plucked him out of the water with a safety net. Thus began a new game of bouncing the ball into the water and watching the puppy dive in.
Even though we were traveling between two islands, we were still in the salt water of the ocean. It was while the puppy was in the water that we noticed the dorsal fin of a shark. The puppy was unaware of the danger but we were not. My friends were encouraging the puppy to swim faster prepared to get him to safety when the water seemed to boil and the puppy vanished.
I stood there stunned. My two friends walked away from the rail and propped themselves against the wall. The young girl wept silently. When we arrived in Manila, they acted as if nothing had happened. But I never went with them anywhere again and my viewpoint of Christians diminished.
Now allow me to confess something to you. The story I just told you never happened. Before you accuse of being a liar allow me to explain myself. Look at Matthew 13:34 “Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables.” I just told you a parable. Now I will explain this parable to you.
There are five central characters to this story. We have the two Christian friends, the young girl, the puppy, the shark, and the witness. I want us to examine each of these characters individually.
Let us begin with the puppy.
The puppy represents those who are lost and apart from Jesus. They chase after the bouncing balls that the world has to offer. Such things as “sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
Those apart from Jesus find themselves involved in evil desires, in greed that is a form of idolatry, worshiping the things of this world, in rage, malicious behavior, slander, dirty language, and lying. (Colossians 3:5-9)
The world bounces the ball of “a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.” (1 John 2:16)
Those who find themselves swimming in this vast sea of sin have no concept of the danger that surrounds them. How can they not know?
2 Corinthians 4:4 “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”
A blind person cannot see. They live in total darkness. They are dependent on others to care for them. Do we get angry with a blind person or do we have compassion? Do we get angry and judgmental with an unbeliever or do we show compassion? Like the puppy, they do not fully understand. It is up to us to guide them with tenderness and care. Too often, we simply cast them back into the sea and walk away.
Our next character is the shark.
Sharks will devour just about anything. The Discovery Channel made a list of twenty documented items found inside a shark’s stomach. This list included :A tattooed human arm. A tom-tom drum. A boat cushion. An unopened can of sardines. License plates. Coats and other clothing. Cans of paint. Packages of cigarettes. A coil of copper wire. A leather wallet. Old tin cans. Lumps of coal. Driftwood. Nuts and bolts. Two full-sized dolphins. The head of a crocodile. Cardboard containers. Cattle, horses and other livestock. Poisonous sea snakes.
The Outdoor Channel added ten more. Boots. Musical instruments including guitars and harmonicas. A tablecloth. Bottles of wine. License plates. Driver’s license. The head of a bulldog. A barrel of nails. A fur coat. A suit of armor. A porcupine. Like I said, sharks will devour anything and so will the devil.
1 Peter 5:8 “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”
Satan devoured Cain when he killed his brother Able. We are told, “Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel.” (1 Chronicles 21:1) which was contrary to God’s command and brought punishment on the nation.
Jesus had to rebuke Peter when he confronted Jesus on the necessity of his death. “Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. ‘Get away from me, Satan!’ he said. ‘You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s’” (Mark8:33)
We read this tragic account in Luke 22:3-4 “Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them.
And another tragic account in Acts 5:3 “Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.’”
This lie led to the death of Ananias and his wife.
Even Jesus was not spared from the attack of the devil. He was tempted for forty days by him. Like a shark, the devil does care about whom he devours, sinner or believer.
The next character in our parable is the loved one.
There is nothing sadder than preaching a funeral where those who remain are not sure of that person’s salvation. Comments are made like “They were a good person, do anything for anybody. They never went to church but I’m sure they knew God.” That uncertainty is a source of great sorrow. And it is one that Jesus is familiar.
Matthew 23:37-38 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you would not let me. And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate.”
Although this message was for Jerusalem, I believe this compassion reaches through ages. God’s desire is that none should perish. I believe Jesus looks down upon those who are lost and away from him and cries out, “I want to protect you beneath my wings but you will not let me.” Then one day this house made of clay that we live in will be abandoned and left desolate.
In Revelation 21 we have this promise; “God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes,” I believe that Jesus is shedding some of those tears. I believe it breaks his heart each time one of his sheep dies and are forever lost. We have an obligation to reach out to them and shine the light of Jesus on them, to let them see love and compassion toward them. We have an obligation to soothe our Lord in his sorrow.
Our fourth character in our parable is the Christians.
They played games with the puppy, throwing the ball in the water. They were not aware of the danger lurking below. When the tragedy happened, they were indifferent to the young girl. They were not concerned with my witnessing their behavior.
We, as Christians, would do well to pay heed to Paul’s instruction to Timothy.
1 Timothy 4:16 “Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.”
If you claim to be a Christian, you are under scrutiny. People are watching you to see how you live. Do you live a life filled with love? Do you live a life filled with joy? Is there a peace about you? Are you patient with others? Do you treat people with kindness, goodness, and gentleness? Are you faithful to your promises? Do you have self-control that keeps you from going ballistic? We should be displaying these spiritual fruits.
Do you walk the walk or just talk the talk? If someone asks you a question about righteous living, can you answer it and then live it in his or her presence. We are to stay true to what is right for our sake and theirs. We have the assurance of our own salvation. We are called to assist those who do not have that assurance, to achieve it.
People are watching if you have claimed Christianity to be the foundation of your belief. Like it or not, it is true. As in the parable, we can easily drive others away by our actions.
2 John 1:8 warns us to “Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve.” We are in partnership with the Holy Spirit. He has called us to be his hands, feet, and mouthpiece. We must be careful not to damage the achievements of the Holy Spirit in his calling others to repentance.
Our last character in the parable is the witness. A witness is one who observes. In the parable, that was I. I observed as my friends enjoyed themselves with no awareness of the fright in the young girls eyes. I observed as the puppy was toyed with and even encouraged to leap into the deadly water. I observed as the predator devoured him. I observed as the tears flowed from the young girls eyes. I observed the indifference of my Christian friends.
Friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family are observing every aspect of our lives. Even strangers will often observe that we are a bit different. The danger comes when we behave like those in the world who are lost.
In Revelation 3:15-16 Jesus is speaking to the church. He says, “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”
When I arise in the morning, I look forward to a nice hot cup of coffee. The fist sips are refreshing. But since I am a sipper, the coffee begins to cool down before I can finish it. It becomes lukewarm and not very tasty. I usually dump half of it away.
Just as lukewarm coffee is not appealing to me, lukewarm Christians are not appealing to the Lord. In fact, his desire for us is to either be on fire for him by living exemplary lives or not tell others we are Christians. We can do more damage by making others aware of our relationship with Jesus and then live as if we do not have one.
But there is a danger in being a silent Christian. Jesus said in Matthew 10:33 “But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.” Why would we not want to live a life on fire for him?
So thus ends my parable. Now you must decide what teaching you will take from it and apply to your lives.
