Have you ever been to the Upper Peninsula of the state of Michigan? If you have, then you have probably already encountered the Chapel Rock, which makes up part of the Pictured Rocks National Park along the shore of Lake Superior. Though there are many beautiful rock sculptures in the Pictured Rocks Park, the Chapel Rock is quite unique. It used to be connected to the mainland via an arch, but in 1940, the arch collapsed. Today, Chapel Rock is a stand-alone rock, completely separate from the mainland.

Interestingly, there is a white pine tree that stands at the top of Chapel Rock, with its exposed roots clinging to the bare rock. With no source of water on Chapel Rock, how can the tree survive?

Quite simply, this tree has grown a large root that spans the gap to attain the mainland where there is plenty of water to be had. The tree, though alone and in an impossible environment, is securely connected to its source of life.

The same is true for us. If we are intimately connected with the Life Source, we will blossom to our full potential.

Still, all of us have wandered away from our Life Source. We thought we had it made. We thought we could be in control of our own lives. Soon, however, we discovered that life was fleeting, and all our well-laid plans would never come to fruition. We also quickly realized that we had a ton of worries as well as a hole in our heart. Something was missing, and we didn’t know what.

Had we delved a bit deeper, we would have realized that we couldn’t subside without remaining connected with our Life Line; however, at this stage in the game, we had no idea how to get back to Him. We were completely lost.

Seeing our impossible predicament, our Life Source sent His own Son to show us the way. Jesus’ pure life was a personal testimony, assuring us that it is, indeed, possible to be reconnected with our Life Source. As we had thoroughly and completely erred, this Son of our Life Source willingly died on a cross so that our past could remain in the past forever, forgiven fully for those who accepted His offer. As a result, we were able to reconnect with our Life Source and live purposefully.

This is why the apostle Paul wrote: “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Rom 6:3-4, NIV2)

What does this all mean? Paul explains:

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin- because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” (Rom 6:5-8, NIV2)

In other words when we realize that we have sinned, and we turn to our Life Source with a contrite heart, we can bury our past lifestyle for good and be resurrected with a brand new wardrobe, one that is connected with our Life Source. Then God’s Spirit will guide us in an abundant new life, where love will become our motivation.

This new lifestyle is symbolized though baptism in water. Our past is buried, we resurrect with a life dedicated to our Life Source.

Hungering for water? Tired of all of your mistakes? Come to the Life Source. He will fill you up with abundant water!

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:37-38, NIV)

Connected to our Life Source. This is what we were meant to be!

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “Radical Grace From the Book of Romans” devotional series, please click here.)