Persistent Predators
Shark attack! It happened to 22-year-old Luke Tresoglavic while snorkeling off Caves Beach, near New Castle, Australia, on February 2oo4. A small carpet shark, also known as a Wobbegong, latched onto Tresoglavic’s leg and thrashed violently. Tresoglavic tried to steady
the shark with both hands to keep it from tearing his leg apart. And with this contorted little shark locked onto his leg, Luke had to swim 1000 feet to reach the shore. But escaping the waters did not end his battle with the shark. The persistent predator continued to clamp tenaciously onto Luke’s leg. Other bathers ran to his rescue, but they could not pry the little shark free. So Luke walked to his car and drove to a local surf club – with the 60-centimeter-long (about two feet) shark still attached to his leg. Some of the lifeguards held the thrashing shark steady, while others flushed his gills with fresh water. Finally, they were able to pry the persistent predator off of Luke’s leg, leaving behind 70 needle-like puncture wounds, which were treated at the local hospital. Of course, Luke had to drive to the hospital himself, with the dead shark lying beside him.
Strange that a man can escape the shark-infested waters and still be attacked and vexed by a shark. Even so, we can be delivered from lives of sin. We can be saved into a life of fellowship with Christ, moment by moment enjoying the presence of the Holy Spirit. Yet, individual sins from “the old life” may cling tenaciously to us and refuse to let go. Their bite is very real, as is the pain it brings.
But their torment is not an indicator that we never left sin behind – any more than that tenacious shark was an indicator that Luke had never left the sea.
The problem for us is this: Christ takes us just as we are. He does not demand we clean up our lives before accepting us into his presence. The moment we cry for help, He draws us from the shark-infested waters. As soon as we call out to Him for salvation and forgiveness, He saves and cleanses us. But sometimes predators from the past continue to hound us and refuse to give up so easily. But do not be troubled. God knows about your problems and imperfections. He’s brought you this far and is not about to “cast you back into the sea where sharks belong.” One by one, all such predators will eventually give up – until Christ’s final victory at our death and resurrection, when the sins that once plagued us we will never see again – ever.
In the meantime we have this promise in Scripture: “Little children, these things I write that you may not sin. But if anyone sins, we have Someone Who pleads for us with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins; and not only for ours, but also for the whole world.” (1 John 2:1-2)
God has made every provision to save you, keep you, and to bring you safely into His heavenly kingdom.
PRAYER offered from Ch David Causey: Dear heavenly Father, please forgive my imperfections and those predators from the past that continue to plague me. Please set me free, deliver me, and help me to win the ultimate victory over those shadows from my past. Amen.
Blessing from Above,
Chaplain Robert Kinnune