The warm sun shines down on contented figures sitting on the fantail of the small fishing boat. It’s warm, peaceful, quiet. I can almost touch the little trolling motor without moving, yet can hardly hear its pulsing beat as it keeps us just barely under way. There is no newspaper aboard. That’s good. No radio blares. That’s better. And, of course, no TV! No wonder it’s peaceful. The troubles of this sin-sick world seem far away. The boat gently rises and falls on the soft Pacific swells; the rhythmic motion drawing our minds into contented reverie. I glance across at my beloved. One wary eye watches the end of her fishing pole. If it twitches, she’ll be all action. I’ve seen that response before! But now she is lost in thought. Too bad life isn’t always this peaceful.
But it can be, should be—for we are Christ’s ones:
“We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”—united to the Prince of Peace. “There is therefore now no condemnation”—peace regarding sin. “Forgetting those things that are behind”—peace as to the folly of our past. “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee,” —peace as to the years ahead. “That where I am, there ye may be also”—peace for eternity. We should always be at peace within. It’s only when we let the world in that we are not.
Two hundred yards to starboard lie the rocky beaches of the Alaskan coast. Back from the beach a short way, mountains rise sharply to cloud-enshrouded peaks. No one is in sight. No building anywhere. Just pristine countryside. Marvelous beauty; all made by our heavenly Father. Nature’s perfect balance here seems undisturbed; all held together by the nail-pierced hand. And now, for a few days, He is letting us share it with Him. This is grace indeed! It bows the heart in thanksgiving. But this is just the beginning. Eternity looms. Home. Heaven. Far beyond the best earth has to offer; better than eye has seen or heart imagined. There, in the Celestial Realm, we’ll explore eternal wonders with the Christ who loves us so. Life here is merely a foretaste of eternal bliss.
It’s been a while since we had a strike. Glance forward at the fish-finder. It shows fish in depths below—big king salmon. Check the down-riggers; depth seems to be set OK. Bait seems OK. But no fish. Why? The Lord said, “I will make you fishers of men.” How long has it been since I caught a soul for Him? None? Not even any bites lately? We’d better check: Are we trolling where the fish are? No sense dragging bait around where there is nothing to catch. Are we at the right depth? Is the bait right? It’s got to attract the fish. Am I presenting Christ attractively? If no bites, why not?
The state of Alaska sets limits per day per license: is it two kings, six silvers, five pinks…? We know what will happen when we get back to the dock. Any fish? If yes, did you limit? It would be almost embarrassing to admit we didn’t. Yet for the Christian fisher of men, so many days on the road to heaven end with no catch, not even a bite; and we think nothing of it. Talk about limiting! The Lord sets no limit. Yet some go years without a catch. Caught anyone lately? Perhaps it’s time to check the gear. How will you feel when you reach Home Port and the Master Fisherman asks: How many did you catch for Me?
Suddenly, a sound breaks in, the thunder of a powerful engine. There it is—a silver jet climbing heavenward. Evidently the afternoon flight from Ketchikan to Juneau. I’m glad we’re down here; on the sea, in the sun. But the passing jet reminds us it is late afternoon. Soon time to head for home. And so it shall be for all of us. We glance astern and muse on the wake left behind. We glance ahead at a seemingly endless procession of waves and swells. But not far ahead, perhaps just around that next point of land, lies journey’s end. Have we enjoyed the passage? Have we fished well? Are we ready to tie up at heaven’s pier?
Aha! The rod tip jumps! Lift the tip. Clear the down-rigger. Rare back on the line. Oh, the thrill of that response! Another big one hooked and probably soon to join its friends in the icebox. It’s great to be alive. Best of all to be alive in Christ!