These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by men.  Isaiah 29:13

     Kate Merrick lives in California, loves the beach, and goes there often. In her book, “And Still She Laughs,” many illustrations are taken from stories about the beach and the people who are there. One story is about a man she saw, a Kris Kringle look-alike (except tanned and leathery), who sat across the road from the beach. Really.  He was facing the beach, but the highway and a rock wall lay between him and the sand. Twenty-five yards farther, and the man could have “dug his brown toes gratifyingly in the sand.” But nope. Across the road. So close, and yet so far. Maybe he was trying to avoid something that he perceived as unpleasant that takes place when you are actually at the beach (kids kicking up sand, sand crabs, sharp shells all come to mind). Anyway, maybe the guy thought he was at the beach, but actually he was near the beach.

     She writes, “So often we are that guy when it comes to following Jesus. We set up camp nearby, we come close, but for whatever reason we don’t fully engage.”

     See the verse for today? God says these people come near Him with their mouth, but their hearts are far from Him.  We want the blessings of a Christian life but none of the pain. We won’t risk loving someone or losing the love of someone (even though they may not be God’s choice). We don’t offer our gifts for service because we are afraid we will look foolish. We don’t want to lose reputation or comfort or be inconvenienced in ways that are messy. Guess what? Following Jesus is messy!

     So Merrick tells a story of something messy that happened to her at the beach—a dog peed on her (I know this is TMI, but just wait). She goes on to say that if she had decided to stay away from the beach because of this negative thing that happened to her,  she would have missed fabulous days of surfing, wonderful fun digging in the sand with her kids, a walk along the beach with her husband.

     The point is, life is hard, and she has had her share of tough stuff. But she writes, “I want to find the joy in surrender and in serving Jesus. I don’t want to miss it. Instead of sitting by the road, I want to cross over, to follow Jesus to the ends of the earth and right into heaven.  I refuse to allow grief and bitterness to keep me from following Jesus. I’ll give up what is easy for a far more glorious life, for a life that is nowhere near perfect. Grief is intense. Pain is intense, but so is choosing to live for eternity; it is such a game changer. When I am free to cross over and enjoy the goodness of family, nature, friends, love and music, it glorifies God. Crossing over draws out laughter, draws out worship, draws out trust, draws out love.”

*In what way are you sitting across the street from God? Why are you there? (so near, and yet so far)?

Lord Jesus, Teach me to trust. Settle my heart where there is fear and insecurity. Help me to think clearly and boldly about the future You have planned for me. I don’t want to sit across the road and experience only a small taste of Your goodness, because I’m being self-protective. I’m in. I’m crossing over. With my whole heart. With love and adoration I pray, Amen.


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