In the maritime environment where I work, we often take boats out to sea. We always start out with the boats moving in a single line. After a few miles, when the coxswains are accustomed to the state of the sea, we play with different formations. We may even race one another to get home first. But we always leave the quay in a single line.
The boat in front takes the brunt of the swells and waves, creating a path through the sea. This makes it easier for the boats behind to stay in formation. If the boats follow too close to one another, the engine wash will make the boat behind veer off to the side. The closer they are to the boat in front's engines, the harder it is to stay on course.
Each boat also leaves its own “track” through the water, called a wake. The wake makes a distinct “line of water”, to each side, between which the other boats have to stay when following. When the boats are inside the wake, and not too far behind, nor following too close to, the boat in front, the water is at its most favourable condition for the coxswain to keep the vessel steady.
This may also be applied to the life in Jesus Christ: if we let Him be the Leader, He will create the most favourable conditions for our current state of life. If we stay inside the Will of the Father, and let the Ten Commandments be a line to each side that we dare not cross (even though we will, occasionally... and then the waves hit us directly and the swells become mountains that suddenly drop off in front of us, and we may be tempted to ask: “Where is the Protection of God?”), then we will overcome this World much easier, than when we try to take the lead. If we do not stay too far behind, giving the World a chance to come in between us and God, we will have a much smoother walk, even though there will still be the occasional temptation (wave) that slips through.
And if we dare to go right up to the Power (the Engines, where the wash creates its own waves), we must expect satan to throw everything it can on us. The closer we get to God, the harder our judgement shall be if we fall away.
satan demands death; God gives Life. God's power is infinite, while satan has only what was apportioned to it and what it stole. The World is in the power of satan. And the worst that satan loves to throw at God's children, is the strife that flames up between God's children. The boats that throw anchor in the canal (illegal to do that), and threaten with a lawsuit if your ship crosses over them. Some ships need 45 minutes to get to a standstill, with the engines totally cut out. And if Jesus is the ship you follow, stay inside the canal He had barged out for His gospel. No other has right of way there, and if they wish to use His canal, they are obliged to obey His rules.
Murphy's Laws of Combat states that “Friendly fire isn't.” Friendly fire is a pretty term for same forces that do not know of each other, or have inadvertently crossed paths during a fire fight. Enemy fire kills. Friendly fire kills own forces.
satan loves it when God's children oppose each other on the small teachings:
The Trinity is blasphemy
Eating meat is ungodly
The Lord's Supper was a once-off
The Lord's Supper must be used with a cup
All the above can be proven from Scripture. All the above can be disproved from Scripture.
Instead of all boats going in all directions, shouldn't we rather test the spirits, as it is written, and should the spirit be of God indeed: go in one direction - after Jesus?
