…you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19 (NIV)
Grandpa and Grandma had a swimming pool—so you can imagine where the grandkids spent the summers. That’s right—long hours in the pool. We played every water game imaginable including some made up ones. We also did some intricate synchronized swimming routines (I realize in admitting that I’ve just lost some “man points” with some of you. You must need to realize that the oldest two of the cousins were girls. The boys vote was never counted. There was no hope for us.).
One of the games we’d play included several heavy objects and all four of us huddled in the deep end. We’d throw the heavy objects into the deep end and count to see who got them fastest. It was a man game! It took skill, strong lungs, and had a bit of danger to it. I remember those moments under the water: eyes stinging from the chlorine, lungs burning because I exhaled all my oxygen too early, quickly trying to gather each item with my pruney fingers—like a scuba driver gathering treasure. For the sake of conversation what if we brought up something that wasn’t supposed to come up like a chlorine tablet (even though grandpa’s chlorine was in liquid form)? I say this because not every buried item is supposed to be brought back. Like iniquity (sin) that’s been hurled into the depths of the sea. In those waters a “Do Not Fish” sign has been placed. It’s a “no swim” zone. Yet I’ve been known to swim those forbidden waters—eyes stinging, lungs burning, gathering old sin with my pruney fingers like forgotten treasure. It was meant to stay there—me separated from what use to destroy me. God hurls it to the depths for a reason—for me to forget it and not go back.
So why do you go back? Are you confused about what a treasure really is? Have you believed the lie? Does it really bring you the comfort and joy it claims to? As any loving parent would, God is separating you from what hurts you. Don’t go back.
Grandpa and Grandma had a swimming pool—so you can imagine where the grandkids spent the summers. That’s right—long hours in the pool. We played every water game imaginable including some made up ones. We also did some intricate synchronized swimming routines (I realize in admitting that I’ve just lost some “man points” with some of you. You must need to realize that the oldest two of the cousins were girls. The boys vote was never counted. There was no hope for us.).
One of the games we’d play included several heavy objects and all four of us huddled in the deep end. We’d throw the heavy objects into the deep end and count to see who got them fastest. It was a man game! It took skill, strong lungs, and had a bit of danger to it. I remember those moments under the water: eyes stinging from the chlorine, lungs burning because I exhaled all my oxygen too early, quickly trying to gather each item with my pruney fingers—like a scuba driver gathering treasure. For the sake of conversation what if we brought up something that wasn’t supposed to come up like a chlorine tablet (even though grandpa’s chlorine was in liquid form)? I say this because not every buried item is supposed to be brought back. Like iniquity (sin) that’s been hurled into the depths of the sea. In those waters a “Do Not Fish” sign has been placed. It’s a “no swim” zone. Yet I’ve been known to swim those forbidden waters—eyes stinging, lungs burning, gathering old sin with my pruney fingers like forgotten treasure. It was meant to stay there—me separated from what use to destroy me. God hurls it to the depths for a reason—for me to forget it and not go back.
So why do you go back? Are you confused about what a treasure really is? Have you believed the lie? Does it really bring you the comfort and joy it claims to? As any loving parent would, God is separating you from what hurts you. Don’t go back.
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