I have done a lot of traveling in my days. One of the many things I have seen is really quite cool. I was traveling in Pennsylvania once, and stopped by a river to have lunch. When I looked out over the side, I noticed these people coming down the river in inner tubs! Not the flimsy kind…these were the inner tubes from LARGE truck tires! They would lay in them and just float down stream. I also noticed at one point in the river, there were “rapids” so to say. An area where they were tossed, turned, and bumped up against some pretty large rocks. I saw a couple of them over turn! Luckily, the water was not that powerful or deep, so they were able to right themselves up and stand in the river. Of course, then, they had to run down stream on the side of the river to find their respective tubes. All in all, it really did look like fun! I have often thought about that day and those brave inner tubers.

One day the Lord gave me this unique analogy about that sight I saw. Let me try to share that with you! I will use myself to explain this, but do try to put yourself in my place!

Ever since my Christian Walk with the Lord began, I have been like, at least most of the time, those people. I have just “floated” along in the “river of life” in an inner tube! Some times the ride was smooth. Other times it became rough. And there were always these rocks that I would hit and bounce against. Now you need to use your imagination here. Let’s suppose God is in a big boat traveling down the same river?! The waves or currants never bother him! He steers His boat, and avoids all the rocks in the way. Many times He has called out to me…”Robyn, grab this “life line” I am sending you! It will keep you behind, and in line, with My boat, and you will have a smooth ride!”

Do I listen? NO! Most of the time, I have just kept going in my inner tube. All the while, complaining about the bumps and bruises I am getting along the way. “Lord,” I say, “If this is the tube you have given me to get through life in? Why does it have to be so hard to manage and steer?”

His answer is always the same…”It doesn’t! You are making the choice to not hang on to Me and the “Life Line” I offer you that will help you to stay in line with the current. I have a perfect plan for your life and always did. Yet for some reason, you prefer to go along with the flow and be hurt, instead of getting in line with My Word and being protected by the boat?”

OUCH!!! He is right you know? Actually, if more of us would be willing to admit it, I think this would be true of many!

We can choose to go along the river of life, bouncing, bumping, and hurting; or, we can choose the way the Lord has laid out, where HE is our “Sure” Rudder, our “Life Line”, and has the “right path” to take us down stream!

His way is STILL in the river, and the water is STILL dark and swift, but His boat (Holy Spirit) and “Life Line” (The Word) are there to guide us through to the safe shore that awaits us at the end of the ride!!!

Well, I think I’ll just grab on to the “LIFE LINE” now folks!! See ya “down stream” I’m sure! I want to get there with as little damage as possible. How about you?

© Robyn Cavalera robyajesusfreak@bellsouth.net

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