This morning I told the following story. Since I didn't write it out first, what follows is my recollection of more or less what I said.
Life Vests
Back in September we moved from Portland, Oregon to this town (Petesrburg, Alaska). We drove from Portland to Bellingham, Washington, and then boarded a ferry called the M/V Malaspina. The day we boarded, it was bright and sunny, like it is today. (Though by the time we came into Petersburg, it was, as is typical, raining.)
We settled aboard and then I think it was the Purser who announced that there was going to be a short demonstration of safety equipment and procedures at the cafeteria. At the announced time, we made our way to the cafeteria to watch and listen to the demonstration and instructions.
The crew showed all of us what to do if an emergency occurs on board that would require everyone to quickly get off the boat. They showed us life vests and other equipment that would help us stay afloat in the water. They assured us that there was enough equipment for everyone to have one, if they were ever needed. On that fall sailing, since the number of passengers was about equal to the crew, I suspect that if we really wanted, we each could have had two or three floatation devices.
Let's say that the ferry hits a big rock and begins to take on water. It's starting to sink. The announcement is made that everyone needs to make their way to the muster point, collect appropriate survival equipment, and then go to the life rafts. Does it make sense to ignore all of the instructions, leave all the safety equipment behind, and jump into the water?
Or perhaps you follow the instructions, but you choose to not get your own life vest. You figure that you can just grab onto your mom or dad and their equipment. But what happens if you find yourself in the water, and a huge, strong wave comes over you? What happens if you lose hold of the person with the life vest?
Since there is more than enough safety equipment, it doesn't make sense to go off the ferry without it, does it? It doesn't make much sense to try to borrow someone else's equipment.
But people try to do that with Jesus, with their spirituality. Some people think they can borrow someone else's Jesus and spirituality. Maybe a boy or a girl thinks that because their mom or dad reads their Bible, that they don't have to read it for themselves. Or maybe because their pastor or their teacher prays for them, they don't need to pray for themselves. Does that make sense to you?
It might seem to work for a little while -- hanging on to your parents' or your pastor's or your teachers' Jesus. But what happens when really difficult times hit? When they aren't close by, or when they don't seem to have the answers for you? If you're relying on their trust in Jesus, you might suddenly find yourself drowning.
Jesus and God are like a life vest. In fact he is better than that, because through the Holy Spirit, God can live inside you. But you have to have Jesus for yourself. You have to wrap Jesus around you and have the Holy Spirit live inside you. You can't rely on holding onto anyone else to keep you afloat when difficult times come in your life. Will you choose to wrap Jesus around you?
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