Without a caption, you’d probably think that picture had something to do with UFOs or ET or Area 51, right? Nope. Step away from your aluminum-foil hat.
Recently-retired-hubby-Roy and I spent a good portion of March in our friends’ condo in Ft. Myers. I spent my days (and most nights) finishing the first draft of Potiphar’s Wife on deadline (4/1)! Woot! While I was madly editing this 118K-word manuscript, Roy discovered a new passion–shell walking before dawn.
What does Roy’s “shell walking in the dark” have to do with today–the day AFTER Easter?
What’s A “4th Day”?
Jesus rose on the 3rd day, so let’s try to imagine what the 4th day was like for his disciples–the day AFTER Jesus appeared to show them His scars. Where did the frightened disciples go after their Leader and Friend had been crucified, buried–and raised from the dead? What did they do? How did they feel?
Scripture indicates that Jesus didn’t hover over the whole world with a giant megaphone to announce He had risen. The revelations of His Resurrection were as personal as were His life and teachings. Everything about God-Made-Flesh was: Personal. Planned. Powerful.
“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me [Paul] also, as to one abnormally born.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NIV
Beyond the 4th Day
He appeared to several people–individually and in groups–over a period of fifty days before rising into the clouds while the disciples watched.
“Then they gathered around him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” Acts 1:6-9 NIV
Each morning while Roy and I were in Florida, I woke up around 6am to work on my rough draft, but Roy was already gone for his “shell walking.”
It was dark. Why didn’t he wait until daylight?
At first I thought it was because he’d have to pay for parking after 9am–which was the reason on that first day. But when he experienced shell walking in the dark, he was hooked…
There’s something that happens to our focus when we can only see RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. It minimizes the distractions. And when the distractions are gone, we know the only thing that matters is the next thing. So we fully concentrate on that next thing.
Step-By-Step, No Distractions
After Jesus’s death and Resurrection, the disciples’ world started a downward spiral into what would become decades-long persecution. And centuries more when we read early Church history. Wait…even our current-day Church in some parts of the world. Even we, who are “free” to follow Jesus Christ, live in a darkening world–and it oftentimes feels like only the next step is revealed. So what does the “4th Day” and beyond mean for you and me?
Let’s do the next thing–without becoming distracted.
What distracts us? I don’t know about you, but the darkness itself is pretty distracting to me! And sometimes I’m distracted by a pretty vivid imagination that tries to anticipate or plan what God’s next steps COULD BE.
God’s Answer to Distraction
Throughout Scripture, God clearly repeats, in both Old Testament and New, that to be right with Him (righteous), we must live by faith. It was Abraham’s faith that made him right–not following the Law, which God gave centuries later through Moses to Abe’s descendants.
“Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:6 NIV
“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” Romans 1:17 NIV
Risk and Reward
So, as followers of Jesus, our first job is to walk in the light we’re given.
Our second job is to keep walking when He shines the light on the next step! Yikes! Stepping into that new territory can be a little scary, but it’s also the only way we’ll experience a deeper and more intimate relationship with the One lighting our path.
My sweet husband missed only one day in two weeks of pre-dawn shell walks regardless of cold weather, wind, or rain. He took his flashlight and bucket and combed long stretches of beach–one step at a time. And his reward was great.
I, on the other hand, went one day. I was cold and uninspired (48 degrees and windy). We only walked half as far as he usually walked–and my reward was far less.
Our God is a Gentlemen. Come rain or shine or cold or wind, He often allows us to determine how long we’ll search for His treasure. Give up too soon, and miss the blessing. Risk the wind and waves–keep taking each step He reveals on the 4th day, the 5th day, and beyond–and your reward will be great, dear one!
Today’s Questions:
- What path has God already revealed that you must minimize distractions to keep walking?
- What new light has He given that might require you to take a step of faith?
