The Ocean waters were so inviting as the sun beat down upon us. I could hardly wait! Our little canopy covered canoe with an outboard motor moved laboriously through the deep. We were about to take the plunge into the Ocean depths below to observe the aquatic world underneath us. Snorkeling off the coast of Zanzibar is exquisite.
My fellow passenger and dearest of friends since his radical conversion several years ago was none other than Sach. As we reached the intended spot over the coral gardens far beneath us, I could see the excitement on his face.
This was his first experience snorkeling. After explanation and instruction, I asked the question: "are you ready?"
"OHHH YEA" came his usual jubilant response.
SPLASH. I hit the water first and took off full speed ahead mesmerized by the tropical colors and schools of fish all around me.
SPLASH. The sound of Sach hitting the water several meters behind me was unmistakable. I just knew this was going to be the experience of a life-time for him.
After several minutes of diving and chasing small exotic fish I suddenly realized that I hadn't seen Sach since the 2nd splash. Poking my head up above water, I noticed that he was back on the boat already.
"What in the world?" I thought to myself.
As I neared the boat, all I could hear was his deep booming voice yelling like a mad-man: "Waaahhhhaaaaa!"
"What happened?" I asked in disbelief.
"THE PLASTIC BAG BIT ME" he thundered in response.
Plastic bag???? What plastic bag????
As I pulled myself back up onto the boat- I looked at his stomach in horror. He was swelling up as huge blisters appeared all over his torso. "Sach!! What happened???"
"As soon as I jumped in the water a huge plastic bag with legs came floating by and ripped into me!"
The reality settled in: JELLY-FISH.
I tried to hold back a laugh as I thought about the imagery of a floating plastic bag attacking an innocent snorkeler. For a person who has never seen a jelly-fish before this would be logical conclusion. Yet, what appeared to be one thing really was not. Something that seemed to be harmless caused tremendous damage. What Sach gravely needed in that moment was the insight and alertness to stay away from the "plastic bag" with tentacles.
My thoughts move towards the days in which we live and the need for spiritual discernment in our lives. Surely, this is an hour to be alert and ready- not apathetic and unconcerned. A moment in history when we must be focused on the Lord and His purposes. Words that keep coming to mind are "focus" and "precision".
Could it be that too many saints have a casual "oh it's just a plastic bag" mentality? After all, it's not a big deal right? This spirit of indifference stifles people exposing them to grave danger. Rather, let us be focused on the things of the Lord- His love, His grace, His kindness, His calling, His promises, and His hope never taking them for granted.
Jesus, in identifying one of the signs of the last days, says in Matthew 24 that "the love of most will grow cold". That verse has always bothered me. Why did He say "most"? I could handle the words "some", "few", or "small number"- but "most" is almost too much. And the reason? "because of the increase of wickedness". Increasing perversion, shamelessness, indecency, immorality, rebellion, godless music, idolatry, selfishness etc....
My mind wonders back again to that day in the waters of Zanzibar. The Ocean was full of "plastic bags", however, I continued swimming because I knew to avoid them. My dear friend, however, jumped out of the water almost immediately in sheer agony. The sting of the jellyfish literally killed all desire in him to continue. And so it would seem that the sting of wickedness in this hour will kill love in our hearts.
In closing, stay near His love. Let your heart be saturated, captured, and captivated afresh by the power of His glorious love! In so doing His love will protect the love inside of us- love towards the Lord, love towards our families, love towards His people, and love towards the world around us.
And the next time you are swimming stay away from plastic bags.
