Even a Dead Fish Can Float Downstream
When I was growing up in Issaquah WA, my Dad built a house right on Issaquah Creek. In the fall, often when the creek was swollen with rain runoff, salmon would fight their way upstream to spawn in the place where they, themselves had been spawned. It was quite impressive. Sometimes they came to a difficult spot and would stop to rest and immediately float back downstream. But they always fought their way upstream again until they reached their destination. Some of them died in the process and would float downstream. I think the old saying, "Even a dead fish can float downstream" comes from this example of fish fighting their way upstream, through turbulent waters, leaping up waterfalls, on and on. It takes no effort at all to float downstream, but the upstream journey can be difficult and takes willpower and determination.
Malachi 2:2 contains a warning to the priests. "If you do not listen and if you do not set your heart to honor my name, says the Lord Almighty, I will send a curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them because you have not set your heart to honor me." The Lord was telling them that they had to set their hearts to honor him. To set your heart takes thought and determination. It isn't just floating along in the stream of life, but it is deliberately and thoughtfully determining that you are going to do what honors God. If you have a heart set on honoring God, you will not be taken by surprise when temptation comes along. You will have already determined how you are going to react, and that you are going to do the right thing.
Mal. 2:15 has another warning. Guard yourself in your spirit. Interesting that this is said in conjunction with marriage. In this day when divorce is rampant, God is still saying to us "Guard yourself in your spirit." If you have predetermined that you are going to stay pure no matter who or what throws themselves at you, you are guarding your spirit and like Joseph in the Old Testament, you can flee from the temptation thrown at you. But again, it takes thought and purposefulness that you are going to do what is right, that you are guarding your spirit.
The title of Revelation 19 in my Bible is "Hallelujah!" There is great rejoicing because the wedding of the Lamb has come and verse 7 says "his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)" Notice!! His bride has made herself ready. I know that we cannot make ourselves righteous but we can yield ourselves to the Lord and allow him to show us the righteous way to live and we can make the determination that we are going to serve the Lord. Like Joshua in the Old Testament we can say, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Josh. 24;15. Draw a line in the sand and refuse to pass over it into unrighteous living.
The wedding of the Lamb is coming. We don't know when, but we can make the decision now that when it does take place we are going to be there. It will happen if we set our hearts to honor the Lord, if we guard our spirits and if we make ourselves ready. Not by floating in the stream of society but by fighting the upstream battle, going against the prevalent culture where anything goes, and predetermine that we will live pleasing to the Lord.
Remember, even a dead fish can float downstream.
Tomorrows Bible Reading - Job 41-42, Malachi 3-4, Revelation 21-22
God is good all the time,
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