This is a story I once heard in Burundi that I have used to often when preaching, especially in youth groups.
There once was a little boy who lived on the edge of the great lake. His dad was a very capable fisherman. And also the chief of the village. He had high hopes that his little boy would grow up to be a capable fisherman in his own right. There was a legend in the village that a great fish lived in the lake.
The elders of the village often said: "The first young boy that this fish sees will be killed."
One day when the little boy was out on the boat with his father he became distracted. Leaning over the brow of the boat he gazed into waters below. Suddenly, he cried out in alarm for peering back at him was another set of eyes. His father rushed over to the edge.
"What is it my son?" Pointing at the large fish staring at them, the father yelled in disbelief. "Oh no! It can't be!" Grabbing his son he sailed back to the village as fast as possible.
"My son has seen the fish!" he exclaimed as the all villagers gathered. "We must save his life."
The boy was transported quickly deep into the interior of the country. There high in the hills far from the dangers of the lake and the scary fish, he grew up. The years passed. 10. 20. 30. 40. By now he was a strong man.
One day notice came from the village. His father had passed away. He must return to assume his place as the chief. Returning to the village he experienced both great sorrow as well as great joy. After burying his father, he decided he would get out on the water in a little boat for the first time in decades. As he sailed the beautiful waters of the great lake he suddenly noticed that he was being followed.
Peering into the water he noticed the same eyes he had gazed up forty years earlier.
"Ahhh!" he shrieked, "I must escape."
So he sailed south only to be followed. He sailed north hotly pursued. He sailed to the depths. And sailed to the shoals always being shadowed by the giant fish.
In sheer desperation he searched for a harpoon. He would settle this matter once and for all. As he prepared to lunge the harpoon into the water, he heard a strange voice. "What are you doing son of the village?"
The fish had spoken to him.
"It's either you or me you wicked fish! You have ruined my life. I had to leave my friends and family because of you. Now one of us must go."
The fish looked at him in disbelief, "What are you talking about?"
"You want to kill me! I know all about you. You are evil."
The fish started laughing, "I don't want to kill you. I want to give you a gift."
"A gift?" cried the man.
"Yes. I was sent to give the largest diamond the world has ever seen to the person found most worthy in your village. That person is you!"
"What?"
"I have waited forty years." With that he spewed a giant diamond out of his mouth. "Now I can return to the kingdom of the fish in peace."
The man began to wail in despair. For he had wasted 40 years of his life running from the most incredible gift he had ever seen all because he had believe lies about the nature and identity of the fish.
With that I close the story and begin to talk about how so many people are running from God convinced that He is some kind of monster, not realizing that He is the giver of good gifts desiring to bless our lives not curse them. To give us eternal life and make our lives count for eternity. Instead, most people run the other way convinced He is something other than what He truly is all because they believed the lies of other people, pop culture, and the devil.
God is a good God who loves you. How do you see Him? Did you know that He is a loving Father who desires to bestow good gifts?
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