Launching out into the Deep

“Launching out into the Deep”

Accepting God’s invitation to become life-long learners - Luke 5:1-11

       I find myself fixated on thoughts about this new season of life. Maybe its because it caught me by surprise. I have said I did not see it coming, but He did! One era has come to an end. Wow! It came faster than I ever imagined. The end did not come as I imagined. I was kind of launched out into the deep... unsuspecting. But now by faith, the future is wild with anticipation. Like most of us have come to realize, every season of life is more a beginning that it is an ending. It is indeed the beginning of the rest of our lives.

       In Luke 5:1-11, the Bible describes an experience where Peter, James and John are launched into a new season of their lives into their destiny. They go from being mere fishermen to becoming “disciples”. A disciple is simply a “learner”. A powerful lesson from this passage is that Jesus captures mere men with an invitation to become life-long learners. We call them “Disciples”. With His invitation and guidance, these disciples learned to “launch out into the Deep”!

       John Eldredge writes “We have grown dull toward this world in which we live; we have forgotten that it is not normal or scientific in any sense of the word. It is fantastic. It is fairy tale through and through. Really now. Elephants? Caterpillars? Snow? At what point did you lose your wonder at it all? Even so, once in a while something will come along and shock us right out of our dullness and resignation.”    (Adapted From EPIC – John Eldredge)

       Please note Luke 5 is NOT a story about a fantastic fishing trip. This is one of those experiences that “shocked these men right out of their dullness and resignation”.  Could it be that one of God’s greatest gifts is to be a life-long learner? To always be on the edge of “discovering” a brand new world? So our Lord comes along and invites these men (and us) to step out into the deep and forever be learning from him. What did Peter “see” that day? Did Peter just “see” a huge catch of fish? Was “this”  (v8) what he saw that would cause him to pull his boat onto the shore, to leave it all behind and to follow after another? And don't think so. What did he “see” (and the others with him) that captured his heart and his imagination and dreams? What was it that shocked them right out of their dullness and resignation to move them past just being normal fishermen?

       I suggest that he saw Jesus and learned that there was nothing to fear in following God (Jesus) and His Call on his life! (V 10)  You see, learners don't have to fear the future or failing. Their purpose and goal is to learn and discover. Any child knows this. So Jesus says to Peter, “Don’t be afraid!” Jesus will say that a lot to Peter and any true disciple. :)  Jesus calls Peter to accept His invitation to launch out into the deep, to become a life-long learner. A disciple is just simply someone on a journey of learning and discovering. These men would never stop learning! The next thing you know Peter is learning to walk on water!! :) (Matthew 14:27-31)  Through this experience, I believe Peter learned that the highest adventure in life is knowing Him. HIM a person, not an ideology, or philosophy or some formula. Here is the truth: Life is in a PERSON!!  Nothing else compares to HIM!! How do you know? Watch them!  Whatever they “saw” and “learned” that day caused them to pack up everything they knew, to leave it ALL behind to follow HIM!! AND don’t miss this: He would lead them OFF every MAP they had ever known to learn things they could never imagine!!!  This is what He DOES for those who truly follow HIM!

        So I invite you to join me. This new season we are facing. He is not surprised. Step out of the dullness and quiet resignation and accept His invitation to launch out into the deep. We need not fear the Lord but simple trust Him. Accept His invitation to become a life-long learner. To walk into your destiny and learn things of His Kingdom you could never imagine as you follow Him.