No, this is not some cruel Baptism prank, but an actual question. Are you willing to drown? Here is why I ask.
One of my favorite Bible stories of all time is the story of Peter walking on the water. Can you imagine? I’ve been able to do some pretty cool things in my life that I never thought I’d have the chance to do, but to defy the laws of nature has not been one of them. I imagine this occasion was something the disciples talked about often, maybe even all the way to their graves. I mean, that’s not something you witness or participate in and easily forget.
All my life I have grown up hearing this story with some great life & leadership applications given to it. You can read the full accounts of the story in Matthew 14, Mark 6 & John 6. If you’ve never read it, you should go and do that…right now…I’ll wait.
So, here in the middle of the sea, the disciples are terrified by a storm that was raging. All the sudden, Jesus comes walking on the water toward them. Which by the way, if you don’t think Jesus has a sense of humor, this proves it. As the storm raged, in the midst of their fear, Jesus spoke courage into them. Peter then called out, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” Jesus said, “Come!” and Peter took his leap of faith, walking on the water.
This is how the life and leadership lesson typically went. “If you want to walk on water you’ve got to get out of the boat.” Which is true, and don’t get me wrong, there is great life and leadership applications in that statement. But the other day, it just struck me. In order to walk on water, not only do you have to get out of the boat, but you have to be willing to drown. That quite literally, “If you want to walk on water you’ve got to be willing to drown.”
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Peter didn’t know the water would hold him and he wasn’t guaranteed that Jesus would rescue him when he sank. David didn’t know that he would kill Goliath. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego didn’t know that Jesus would walk with them in the fire. Daniel didn’t know the lions mouths would be shut and Esther didn’t know that the King would extend his scepter. On and on and on and on it goes.
The reason Peter walked on water was because he was willing to drown. David slew the giant because he was willing to be killed. Rack, Shack and Bennie, were able to survive the furnace because they were willing to be burned up. Daniel escaped the lions den because he was willing to be eaten. Esther saved a nation because she was willing to be annihilated by the King.
In order to accomplish great things you have to risk something great. It might be your life. It might be your reputation. It might just be a few bucks. But whatever it is… If you want to walk on water you’ve got to be willing to drown.
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