Make It Work

In the 1920’s and early 30’s my father lived in Modesto, California, in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. Irrigation canals crisscrossed the valley providing water for thirsty crops. My father told me of the times when he and his friends would tie a rope to the bumper of a Model A and waterski behind the car as they sped down a dusty dirt road atop a canal levee.  They didn’t have a boat so they had to make things work if they wanted to ski.

Some of you are waiting for everything to fall into place before you step out in faith. If this is your mindset you might end up waiting for the rest of your life. The great pioneers of faith never had everything they needed when they began their journey of faith. They simply did what they could and left the unrevealed parts of the plan in God’s hands.

When my dad and his friends waterskied down an irrigation canal it wasn’t as romantic as gliding atop a beautiful lake behind a wooden Chris-Craft ski boat, but it was still waterskiing. Our demand for the perfect context can become a hindrance to our obedience if we require that everything be in place before we obey. Later in his life my father bought our family a real ski boat. We took it to a lake near our home and learned from my father how to waterski under the hot California summer sun. He could teach us how to ski because he first learned on an irrigation canal while being towed behind a Model A.

Today, find a spiritual canal. Don’t wait for a lake or the perfect ski boat to arrive. Tie a rope to your promise and yell, “Hit it!” Once you are up on your skis of faith it will no longer matter where your obedience is taking place.