The most interesting things can wash up on shore - remnants of a larger story that we are not privy to; evidence of another time that has passed; items that don't belong in the ocean but are now a part of the beach scene. A child's shoe that was taken out to sea; a fishing rod that slipped out of a fishing boat; sunglasses that were jarred loose when the wearer was hit by a powerful wave - these pieces of stories remind us that the sea has the final say on their destination and configuration.
In the same way, sin didn't belong in God's original landscape, nor was it intended for the human race. Nonetheless, it is now part of our reality and , collectively, part of our story. Tossed about, our random episodes of past sin wash ashore to lie in full view, and as we stroll by to take a closer look, we are forced to decide. Will we keep walking and leave it for someone else to clean up? Or maybe stomp it into the sand to disappear....for a while? Or maybe we decide it's time to face our sin. It's time to pick it up and put it in the garbage once and for all.
Unless or until we do this, and ask God's help in the process, the cycle of sin's stronghold will continue to ebb and flow in our lives, keeping us from truly experiencing the fullness of grace He's waiting to lavish on us. Fortunately, we can look forward to indescribably peace in knowing that the Lord (not the sea) has the final say on our sin's destination. "He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5).
"Devotions For The Beach"
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