John 9:4 “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”
I’ve never been a fishing kind of person. I’m not patient enough, and I have other hobbies I enjoy far more. My dad was a single parent, so he was ok that I didn’t want to go fishing all the time. Even though I don’t go fishing often, I know quite a few people who are very good at fishing. I see them post the big catfish they caught, or them sitting on their boat at a tournament. After a long week or a tough Sunday, I wish I could be out there with them! I push those thoughts aside, because I know this: You can always go fishing.
Some day, there will be no more opportunities to serve the Lord here on this Earth. Whether we pass off the scene or Christ comes again, there is a night when no man can work. No more soul-winning. No more sermons to prepare. No more music practices. No more bus maintenance. No more hospital visits to make. No more work. Jesus stoked a fire after he had risen, and he called out to the backslidden disciples who were out fishing. When they came to shore, Christ had already put fish on the fire. Jesus shows his disciples that he could still go fishing, but his ministry on earth was over and past.
Make sure, as you schedule your life, that you include some fishing. Some downtime that restores your soul or clears your mind isn’t sinful. Just keep in mind that someday will come when the work that we get weary of doing will no longer be there. The teens who we prepare lessons for every week will no longer need to be served. Let us determine that we spend our time here on Earth wisely, working for the Lord, before we can no longer.
Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
You know what I’ve learned talking to people who like to fish? You can always go fishing. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, or where you’re at in the world. There are always fish willing to bite if you know what you’re doing. People in the Great Lakes area will drive their trucks out on the frozen lakes to go ice fishing. They are so dedicated that they have a whole set of tools for fishing in the cold weather. Raining? No problem. Hot, hot, hot? No problem. What if you live in Florida? There is fishing there. What about up in Alaska? There is fishing there, too! Every day of the year is fair game for people who fish.
As a Youth Pastor, I’ve learned firsthand that any day is a good day to go fishing. I’ve knocked two blocks of a street in the snow, and the Lord gave our church visitors. I’ve been in nice neighborhoods, bad neighborhoods, places I thought were too far away, places that were right next door, nursing homes, bus stations, hospitals, and any place you could think about going! Everywhere I went, the Lord showed me that you can make contacts any day or any place. Are you taking advantage of the good weather outside? It’s a perfect day to do some fishing.
Jesse McCammon | Pastor
Flora Calvary Baptist Church | Flora, Illinois
www.floracalvarybaptist.com