I found it at China Beach Provincial Park, on the western shores of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. My kids were beachcombing, and my husband was involved in his favorite activity, taking pictures. Feeling rather like a fish out of water (beaches are NOT my favorite vacationing spot!), I decided to partake in my own favorite activity: Hiking! I had just rounded a crag in the mountainous cliffs behind the rocks my kids were combing when it came into view: A beautiful waterfall!

I didn’t explore it immediately. Knowing my husband’s delight in photographing waterfalls, I ran back onto the beach where he was taking a picture of some driftwood. “I found a waterfall!” I called. “Come and see!”

“Yeah,” he answered.

I stopped short and shook my head in surprise that the prospect of taking pictures of a waterfall didn’t thrill him. Maybe he didn’t hear me. “Come!” I called a second time. “There’s a beautiful waterfall over here!”

“I know,” he answered. “I already got it!” His free hand waved in the direction of the cliff behind him, but his attention was completely taken up by the photo he was taking.

Slightly frustrated, I decided that the distance and the sound of the surf were likely distorting my words. There wasn’t any waterfall on the cliff behind him; only a thin trickle of water that made it look like the rock wall was sweating. I slowed to a walk and picked my way over the slippery tide pools in the direction of the driftwood he was photographing. Only when I was by his side did I try again. I knew he could hear me now!

“You need to see the waterfall I found!”

“I saw it,” he said, again motioning towards the sweating rocks.

“No,” I said, my frustration rising. “Not that. That’s not a waterfall!”

“Sure it is,” he replied. “And it’s beautiful!”

I took a deep breath and swallowed. “Better than those,” I urged. “A big one. A REAL waterfall!”

He looked up for the first time, a flicker of interest in his eyes. “There’s a waterfall here? Where?”

Now I had him hooked! I smiled smugly and motioned for him to follow. In the end, he was very impressed and spent quite a bit of time trying to get the best picture of that lovely cascade of water.

As I proceeded to try to climb the rock face of the cliff that the water tumbled over, it occurred to me that we as Christians are often satisfied with “sweating rocks”, to the point that we no longer seek out the real “waterfalls”.

What do I mean?

I mean that once someone has given his or her heart to Christ, the search generally ends. When someone tells them that there is more to the Christian life than Salvation, they tend to not believe it. They don’t seek it because they are happy with what they have. It’s like stepping into paradise and being content to stand on the threshold!

There is more than that, friends! Oh, so much more! There is the Holy Spirit. There is freedom from addictions. There is victory over temptation. There are changes in the way we see things. There is freedom from worry. There is healing, emotional as well as spiritual and physical. And the list could go on and one, but the point is, if we are satisfied with the “sweating rocks” of salvation, we will never seek the grand waterfalls of what could potentially be ours in Christ!

Attached are pictures of the falls and the sweating rocks. Choose for yourself which kind of Christian life you would like to have: The “sweating rocks” of Salvation, or the “waterfall” of the rich and abundant life Christ intends for us to live! And remember as you make your choice: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10 NIV)

Lyn Chaffart

P. S. What? You’d love to seek the “Waterfall”, but you don’t know how? Why not get started by getting to know Him and the rich life He has to offer you? For some great Bible studies, go to: www.Answers2Prayer.org/studies.html