Here is a mystery, a riddle so to speak, for you to figure out.
(Step 1) I caught a bluegill on the fly attached to my fly rod.
(Step 2) But I landed the largest Bass ever on this same fly rod. How did I catch one, but land the other?
Here is the answer……
(Step 3) The Bass gets eaten (by me), but the bluegill is released to begin a new life after being saved from the near death experience with the Jaws of Death.
Wow! This fish survived me catching him on a fly rod, THEN being eaten by a large Bass as I’m reeling him in, THEN waiting while I took pictures ha ! THEN…. I cut the bluegill from inside of the large bass and revived and released him back into the lake. This fish was caught by me and “saved” from the Jaws of Death. He now begins a new life. I’ve nicknamed him “Christian”. From now on, when I fish this lake and catch a bluegill, I’ll wonder if it’s Christian.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
I’m not much of one to explain the end times. It’s difficult for me to explain how our souls live forever. I have to rely on my faith and trust as I walk this Christian journey.
But I know what I know. And that is this. God (picture Him using a fly rod) sent his Son Jesus to this world. Jesus, (picture the fly at the end of the line to God), Jesus lets us choose if we want Him in our lives. When we accept Jesus, and His forgiveness, His love, His way of life, (picture the Bluegill getting hooked by the fly) we have a strong connection to God. (via the fly line and fishing rod)
The devil (in this case the Bass!), comes along to consume us. He wants to kill us, to devour us. Yet this connection I have to God is so strong, that even though I’m trapped in the Jaws of Death, He steps in to “SAVE” me!
He restores my soul. He revives me. (Just like I did the bluegill). He leads me beside the still waters. Yea though I walk/swim through the valley of the shadow of death/the Bass, I will fear no evil.
Thy rod (fishing rod) and thy staff, they comfort me. Surely goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER! (Taken from the 23rd Psalm)
So in the simple ways of the wilderness preacher, there you have it. My definition of being “SAVED”!
Theologians, clergy, scholars, philosophers, and maybe even religious know it alls can debate, argue, and give opinions as to what it means to be saved as a Christian. Me? I’d rather be fishing. I see what I need to see from God on each cast that is made. The main reason I love to fish? Well, it’s not about catching fish.
See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, ” whoa, I got another one!”
Do you ever notice those outdoor signs as you drive down the interstates and even the back roads of this country? You can’t help but see them. They are everywhere. What if one of those signs represented you and your life?
It may just be me, but it seems that nowadays most of the billboard signs out on the highways and byways are advertisements for lawyers. You know the ones. You’ve seen them. There’s the lawyer with his picture on the sign saying “One call that’s all”. There’s the other sign with the young lawyer and his slogan, “Been hit? Then call Whitt!” Then there’s “Under Arrest, Call the Best!” On and on. You haven’t gone two more miles down the road when on your right there’s another big sign. Wait! In big capital letters it says, “God is Good”. But underneath the “God is Good” letters it says brought to you by so and so lawyer and lawyer associates. What’s up with that?
Several more miles of driving, now I see a sign showing lawn mowers for sale. There’s one advertising land for sale. Uh oh, now another lawyer sign. It’s just a few hundred more yards and I take a picture showing the sign I’ve shared above. It’s available.
There in broad daylight is a sign that’s a big as half of Kansas . What, no lawyer needing another sign? Then I get to thinking. What if I put my name on that sign. Better yet, what if we put your name on that sign.
If your life could be seen by all the world on one of those outdoor billboard signs, what would people see? What would be your slogan?
Let’s dig a little deeper here. In this spiritual journey that you and I are on, when people that are on the highways and byways of life pass by you, what do they see?
The only Jesus that some people see, is the Jesus seen in you and me. That’s an accurate statement right there! You and I realize our weaknesses and shortcomings, so it’s almost disappointing to us to realize that we may be falling short of being a good example of a follower of Christ. We feel bad when we think of how we show our Christianity to others. There’s no way I can represent Jesus to others! They don’t need to look at me. The overwhelming thought, I…AM…NOT…GOOD… ENOUGH… takes over! It robs us of our joy!
Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
A good ole country boy/cowboy sayin goes like this,….. “it ain’t what ya got, it’s how you use it.”
I think on our Christian walk on this Earth, God takes that saying and turns it into this. “It’s not your ability but your availability that I want from you.”
You are a billboard for all the world to see. Don’t worry about what “road” you are set beside. No need to fret over how big your “posts” are or how much “plyboard” you’ve got to show. Hmm, say you’ve got “termites” trying to tear your sign down. God knows all about you. (Even the ‘termites’ in your life).
What a wonderful blessing to know that God knows all about me,………. and He still wants me to be available for Him. That’s got to make you want to praise Him. Do any of you know that old little children’s song?
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.!
What would be your slogan in this Christian journey?
This morning’s hike was COLD!!! How Cold? My beard and mustache are covered in ice. My heavy breathing was from…. a) hiking up and down rough terrain while strapped to my backpack, and b) the thin high altitude air. The moisture from my breath was freezing to my face because of the 8 degrees this morning’s temperature. Why do such a thing you ask? Grab a chair, sit by the fire with me and let me explain.
I’m glad you have chosen to “partner up” with me as we answer the question, “Why do all of this?” Why go out into the cold, cold world? Why cause yourself a lot of pain (sore muscles)? Why bring on hard times (heavy breathing)? Why be in a situation that causes fingers and toes to go numb (cold temps)? Why? My answer is this. The best is yet to come!
I hike for the exercise. I’m in the outdoors to experience nature. I experience a most magnificent sunrise while at the same time falling and skinning a knee. It’s exhilarating to see where a bobcat’s tracks just crossed in front of me, yet it’s humbling to know my joints ache more than in years past. My fingers and toes, (and today add my nose to this list), go numb on these hiking excursions. The fireplace and coffee are that much more of a pleasurable time when I come in to dwell for a spell in our log home.
What you say? Get with the modern times? Get a Peloton exercise bike? Explore an entire world of workouts with your own personal trainers, right there on the TV screen in front of you………. and not leave the comforts of your own living room. Hurry, Call now!
I don’t think so. I want it REAL! I want to journey in this cold, cold world to experience all I can. That means taking the “bad” with the good. I’ll be out and about in this cold, cold world but at the end of the day I will be dwelling in my warm, warm log home! That’s kinda like knowing the the best is yet to come.
The hike today was special because of the cold. Picture yourself tagging along with me. (Ready? Strap your boots on!) Together we are taking a hiking journey together. I’ll guide you pass the gold mine, and over to the rocky lookout,(Careful, don’t get too close to the edge.) We will maneuver past a steep gully and climb up a good ways to a hidden cave area. I was hoping to show ya mountain lion tracks, but nothing has passed through today. Oh well, next time. Probably about now on this hiking adventure is when you realize that you have no feeling in your feet. Good! Cause now is when we go in and warm up by the fire. It’s where I like to dwell!
Psalm 23:6 Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever…….. (starting TODAY)
If you focus on this cold, cold world, you can’t help but feel the pains, the hard times, the numbness. Hey, we’ve all been living in and through it haven’t we? Covid this and Covid that. Pure lies thrown at us from government leaders. Scientist twisting “science” so they can promote their own activities. That causes pain and hard times. Loosing friends and family also brings grief and sorrow into these hard times. Numbness? The loss of contact with other people, the inability to communicate with others because I don’t believe EXACTLY like they do. I’ve grown numb because of the “Cancel culture” from both sides!
But partner, we must remember that we are in this world but not of the world. We travel/hike through this world everyday knowing that at the end of the travel/hike we come home to a warm house and can sit next to a warm fireplace!
On our spiritual journeys/hike we are to enjoy our everyday travels in this cold, cold world. Soak up the atmosphere, see the grand views, experience life to the fullest! Hmmm. That also means feeling the hurts, sensing the cold, experiencing the numbness. You don’t climb to the top of the mountain without a few skinned knees and elbows!
The best is yet to come! I can say that because of my belief in Jesus Christ. I can travel through this cold, cold world because I know that I get to DWELL in His house forever! I choose to do that starting today. And every day! My hope and faith and trust are in Him. No matter how cold the world is that I am walking in today, I know that there is a spiritual place for me to dwell.(with a cozy warm fireplace!)
My 92 year old Mother likes to remind me that my own human body is not as strong as it once was. It doesn’t handle the cold like I think it should. Falling down hurts a lot more than it used to. (I guess her baby boy of 63 years is having a hard time of admitting it is true.) But in the same breath she talks of being blessed and thankful that she is able to keep going. What keeps her going? Knowing that the best is yet to come!
Let me break it down. To you older folks who have partnered up with this visit and talk. We are traveling in a cold, cold world having to deal with death and dying of our family and friends. If you don’t believe in a life after death with Jesus, that’s like staying outside in the cold and refusing to come in by the fireplace to get warm. It’s your choice. You can choose to sit in the cold world and grow numb or DWELL in the warmth of a Living and Loving Saviour. I want to invite you to come in. ( I’ll be spiritually waiting at the door with a cup of coffee!)
To my young friends who are reading this. You are traveling in a cold, cold world that is wanting you to not think for yourselves anymore. Let the government think for you. Let some celebrity tell you what to do. Copy how some sports GOAT lives and your life will be great! Settle for fake and not have to struggle with the REAL! BUT…….. If you want to live your whole life knowing that the BEST Is Yet To Come,……. I’d like to introduce you to Jesus. You can dwell with Him forever…….starting TODAY! (I’ll be spiritually waiting at the door with a cup of chai latte!) 😉
Love you guys! Dan Ainsworth Wilderness Preacher, wilderness hiker, part time barista! 😉
