Are We There, Already?

John 6:16-21  …his disciples went down unto the sea, And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.  And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.  So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.  But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.  Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

What did they fear when they saw Jesus walking on the sea?  Did they fear the same as us?  Suppose you were to catch the glimpse of a figure walking on the water?  I’m sure telling ghost stories around camp fires isn’t anything new in this latter age.  In every generation we are reminded of death by the passing of the previous generation.  With the constancy of death comes the intimidation of life in many and various forms. 

The approaching dark figure in an already threatening sea could certainly have fueled the imaginations.  On the other hand, we know that when God draws near we tend to fear for the life we have lived and the judgment to come.  Many convictions of the heart that leads to salvation come when Jesus Christ draws near and we consider the wretchedness of our souls.  In a way, the nearness of Christ brings us to a place in which we fear for death; the death of our wretched soul.  This is a positive fear.  This is fear which can lead to the renewing of the spirit and the saving of our soul.  So, as we sail this world of sin and Jesus draws near, be not afraid.

They were afraid because they didn’t know who walked on the water.  Though He is identified in the text as the water-walker, the disciples did not know until He declared himself to them.  The certainty of death looms before each and every one of us.  Jesus has declared to the world, “It is I; be not afraid”.  Yet, death comes for many with fear, foreboding, and finality.  All we must do is receive Him into our little storm-tossed lives and we will immediately know the other shore.

Immediately the disciples were at land.  They had rowed and rowed and could not reach the beckoning shore.  Would they have?  Not on that dark night without Jesus.  This brief life we live can be equated to one dark night on a tempestuous sea.  Working at a feverish pace to save even our lives will still not get us to the other shore and safety.  But, the darkness and troubled sea had no affect on Jesus.  He simply stepped over the waves and through the wind without any delay.  He can do as much for us in this troubled life, if we but receive Him in.  With Jesus in the boat, we are already there.

Where?  Already, our boat is on the other shore.  It says, “Immediately”, they were there.  Death, where is thy sting?  Grave, where is thy hold?  Being in Christ and Christ in us puts us already on the other shore.  Everlasting life doesn’t begin on that other shore; it begins when we receive Jesus Christ into our life.

Go on, believer, we’re already there!

Or, do you still tremble when Jesus draws near?

Believe on Christ, today, and live without fear.

For Hell is for unbelievers, the Devil’s ensnared.

But Heaven, already, is for who Jesus holds dear.