Learning to swim

Let go and let God…?

I’m sure many of you have heard this saying a time or two, maybe even used it yourself.  Many people quote it as if it where scripture…but it’s not.  I think the idea being communicated is biblical if balanced out by other biblical teaching.

This morning in church my pastor shared about “Moving from a spectator to a participant in the Christian life”.  Do you ever feel like you are simply floating along in your walk with God…not really going anywhere?  Maybe it’s time to move from being a spectator and time to become a participant.  In 2 Peter 1:3a we read, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life…”  Do you really believe that God has given you a divine power to lead a godly life?

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.  Ephesians 4

Before we come to know Christ there are many things sinful things that come easily to us…we don’t have to try to be better at lying, disobeying, manipulating, etc.  But after we have come to Christ we are “to be made new in the attitude” of our minds…but this doesn’t just happen without work.  Sin comes easily to us, but righteousness and holiness take work.*  God calls us to be more than just spectators in the Christian life, he wants us to active participants.

Here is an illustration that my pastor shared this morning that really helped me understand how “Let go and let God” isn’t the best motto in our walk with God.

We all know that becoming an Olympic swimmer take a lot of hard work and dedication.

If your goal is to win a gold medal, you aren’t going to get up when you feel like and head to the pool for some float time.

The same is true for those that want to life a Godly life…it’s going to take a lot of hard work.  In the beginning of Ephesians 4, verses 1 and 2, Paul urges us “to live a live worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”  This is not an easy thing to do…but remember,  “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life…”

Ok, so back to… “Let go and let God”.  I think many times people use this saying as an excuse to simply float, it’s time to stop floating and start allowing God’s power to buoy us up in the water as we learn to swim.

*I should note that I am not referring to our eternal state before God.  I believe that at the moment of salvation we are justified in the sight of God and seen as holy in His sight by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  I am referring to the work of sanctification (or being made holy) in our lives.