Lessons in Drowning

The Boat

The Boat

A couple days ago we had a holiday so I thought I’d do some snorkling around a ship wreck I had noticed off the coast last week. The old fishing boat was challenging me to conquer it. Once I got out in the water and did some circles around the shipwreck I was felling pretty good. There was a shallow rocky bottom that gave me considerable comfort in the open ocean. So I thought I’d take the long way back to the beach. That way didn’t have shallow rocks like my approach path did. After about 20 minutes in the water my mind started to play games with me. I started to worry about my strength, the waves that seemed to be fighting me, my half a lung, and even sharks with no rocks to stand upon! Before I knew it my body responded to what my mind feared.

I am not an experienced snorkeler by any means so I wasn’t prepared to get “scared”. The waves seemed like they were pushing me out further into the sea. I started to hyperventilate which is not a good habit while swimming. I started to breath in water so I tried laying on my back to calm my panic. When I laid on my back, staring at the sky, with the sea raising and lowering my body, my world started to spin. A wave rolled over me and I swallowed some more water.  By this time I was sure I was going to die. My mind rushed to think about my wife and kids. My friend on the shore looking out for me had no idea what was going on in the water. As far as he knew I was relaxing on my back.

I can thank the Lord that by  a favorable wave and a fortuitously placed rock in the ocean I was able to get footing. I didn’t die that day but I did learn a monumental lesson that day by way of this real life parable:

1. My shipwreck- I, like a few others, saw a few years ago the greatest challenge to the mission of the church: The Muslim world. It seemed to be standing up like Goliath mocking the armies of God saying, “You can’t come over here! No Jesus allowed!” Well, I couldn’t allow this challenge to go unanswered. I couldn’t sleep at night. I knew that if I didn’t swim out there that I’d never feel like a man (or man of God) again. So uprooted our family from our mission field of choice and headed toward North Africa. Everything was going smoothly. People encouraged me. A few discouraged me. But I was on my way.

2.  The Rocks- As I swam out toward this great challenge protruding from the sea of humanity I took great comfort in the Rock of my salvation: Jesus. He was the One giving the commands and I was close to him. There was little fear because I knew the Rock was under my feet. But once I had made it to the challenge (Muslim mission field) I started to take a different path and somehow, I can’t remember exactly how, I got away from the Rock. He quite being my confidence and I began to trust in myself and in my circumstances.

3. Foundation-less Fears- One thing about the fears that overcame me that day in the ocean is that they were all without evidence. The fear of sharks entered my head…but I never heard of sharks in the area. The fear of an undercurrent  came but there really wasn’t one. The fear of a collapsed lung came but my lung was fine. I was sure I was going to die. The same thing happens on the mission field, especially this one. Foundation-less fears begin to take over once a young man arrives. Usually these fears are given by others who long ago learned to live in fear. I can’t even begin to list the foundation-less fears that missionaries in Muslim countries take all because they have lost site of the Rock. Human reasoning takes over. The mental scenario looks something like this: “What would or could or might happen if Jesus weren’t in control?” Then they begin to act according to those fears.

4. The Back Float- When my fears took over I became frozen. I hyperventilated and attempted to lay on my back. NOT why I had swam out there…to lie on my back.  I know missionaries here who won’t say the name Jesus out loud in their own homes IN ENGLISH! They call Him “J”. They won’t say “The Bible” but they call it “The Good Book”. The won’t witness. They won’t meet with local believers. They won’t, they won’t they won’t all because of fear. They are paralyzed because they left the Rock. I have been paralyzed having left the Rock.

Our only hope of actually conquering this Goliath standing and mocking the Church of Christ is that missionaries would keep their feet on the Rock once they cross the ocean to get here. We cannot live my fears of what MIGHT happen IF we obey Jesus. We’ll all just start hyperventilating. We need to keep Jesus and His Word as our foundation, not all our scenarios and man-made methods. If you are thinking about getting involved in Muslim missions as a missionary or sending church please just remember to not focus on the fears that men would like to throw at you. Start with the Word of God and move forward with your guide in hand. When threats come just look down at the Rock you are standing on. Whatever comes your way, our job is to obey Him. It’s not near as complicated as we have made it.

Here’s a few imperatives that he gave us: Go! Teach! Baptize! Disciple! If you aren’t doing that, you aren’t standing on the Rock.

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16 Responses to Lessons in Drowning

  1. Tony Howeth says:

    Glad Jesus has kept you around and enjoyed the lesson learned here. You and your family are greatly loved.

  2. Jake says:

    Great parable Aaron. Sounds like you could add it to your stump speech sermons!

    I’m glad you didn’t drown, and I wish I could have snorkeled with you. I greatly respect your faith and courage. We watched a short film on Jim Elliot at church yesterday (Steven Curtis Chapman song thing), and you remind me of him and his men. It’s amazing how God changed those people, and I know that through God you can do the same with the Muslim world. Keep the faith and always keep your heart on target! (I just made that up)

    We are praying for you.

  3. Rebecca Byler says:

    Thank you so much for sharing your descriptive lesson…. I needed to hear it. I have been thinking too much of myself and my weaknesses in the last few months as I live among many Muslim neighbors and seek to be a witness to them.

  4. Rebecca Byler says:

    Do I have permission to print this story to share with friends?

  5. Jim Winters says:

    I’m greatful you didn’t drown. We are praying for your ministry to the Muslims.
    jim

  6. Val Bussell says:

    Aaron,
    So glad you are safe. What a wonderful illustration God allowed you to see in this (adventure ) of yours. It is amazing how he allows us nuggets along the way to share his truths with others.
    God Bless You
    Val

  7. Aaron,
    I am sure that it must take much courage to continue the mission to which God has called you and your family. In my little world I falter much more. There are many chances to tell other about Jesus and I fail to stand on His strength. Your letter was an encouragement to me just to know that some of the things you experience are much like one we experience here too. The USA must have some Christians who will stand up while ther is still a nation in existance. God bless you and your family and keep serving our wonderful Lord.
    Paul (GBC, Middletown)
    Romans 8:28

  8. Mark Tolson says:

    Awesome article Aaron! May the Lord bless you greatly with your boldness to simply stand on the Rock in the midst of adversity.

  9. admin says:

    Thank you my bold friend

  10. admin says:

    thanks for the encouragement Bro. margraff. Since the field is the whole world these principles of fighting off fear work in all of it!

  11. admin says:

    thanks for your prayer and encouragement. Tell Pat hey.

  12. admin says:

    I’m grateful that your grateful i didn’t drown!

  13. admin says:

    no permission needed. No copywrite!

  14. admin says:

    Keeping working on sharing the gospel with them. Check out http://www.arabicbible.com They can help you with resources.

  15. admin says:

    Wish you could’ve snorkeled with me too. I think I wouldn’t have almost drowned though then we’d have no lesson to learn from! Jim Elliots bio was the first I read when I was 15. I’ve wanted to be like him ever since but I’m pretty sure I have fallen very short. Love ya

  16. Nathan says:

    Really enjoyed hearing the story in person. You and your family have not only been a great encouragement, but a challenge to Nicole and me. Now your influence has invaded our church thanks to the summit. Our people really enjoyed meeting you and are still talking about the areas that their hearts were challenged in. Our prayers will continue to go up for you as you head back and for the new believers that they will stand boldly on the rock. By the way, do you know where I might find a “slightly mocked” peach sweater vest?