There was a time in my life where I measured success by how big a splash I could make. We lived at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and spent the summer at the pool, jumping off the diving board and doing “can openers” which are like cannonballs but splashier. Cannonballs are dumb like throwing a big round rock into the water. Can openers leave one leg extended and after that leg enters the water you lean back, and a huge plume of water shoots high into the air for everybody to notice.
That is the way many people measure the success of their lives by how big a splash can they make. How many people will know who they are or like them on social media? How many friends or followers can they amass? Like a room full of 4-year old’s jumping around screaming “look at me daddy look at me” our world is filled with people wanting to make a big splash and go viral.
Those who give themselves to the #look@metoo movement rarely end up famous. Their 15 seconds of fame melts away like a popsicle on a hot summer day. They may get a taste of fame but will spend the rest of their lives doing things just to get noticed and keep their names in the headlines. Can anyone say “Kardashian?”
The problem with chasing fame is that it leaves you exhausted, empty, and needing another fix. However, there are many people addicted to popularity which always leaves you needing another fix. I am thankful I got off that train after my train wreck from sexual sin.
What we really need is to go deeper and not wider. We need to put our efforts into going deeper with the Lord instead of wider with the world. If you measure your success in how many people know about you instead of how deep you have gone with Jesus, then you are always going to be chasing after the wind instead of building your life upon the Rock. Do you want to live a life that is a mile wide but only an inch deep?
Ever wonder why Jesus spent 3 and a half years with His disciples? He was pouring Himself into their lives 24/7 for 1277 days or 30,648 hours or 1,838,880 minutes. So, if you spend 10 minutes a day with Jesus that equals 12,740 minutes in three and a half years. So …
12 Disciples spent 1,838,880 minutes with Jesus in 3.5 years.
You, if you spend 10 minutes a day every day = 12,740 minutes with Jesus
1,838,880 vs 12,740 … and you call ourselves disciples???
It is no wonder we are spiritual pygmies. We are doing Jesus lite and wonder why we struggle so with sin. Plus, how many people even do that much?
I am at the stage of life where I want to go deeper with Jesus. I have walked through a lot of suffering in the past 21 years because of sexual sin. It has hurt me, my wife and my family. It is time for me, and I believe you as well, to consider what would it take to go really deep with Jesus and be able to walk in the Spirit every day? What would life be like experiencing His power instead of my weakness? Walking in the Spirit instead of the flesh. Enjoying the Goodness of God instead or more garbage from my world.
We have not arrived yet, but we are making progress … one day at a time.