Lose the Surface Life to Gain the Deep

"Counsel in the heart of man is like water in a deep well but a man of understanding will draw it out." (Proverbs 20:5)

Recently, in Finland, we spoke at our summer convention about the cry of the heart for the deep things of God. The surface living that is so common amongst us does not really satisfy. Christ is the Man of understanding who is able to cut through the layers of superficial thinking and living, and speak directly to our hearts with boldness and clarity. We fall in love with Him because of it.

When the Queen of Sheba traveled 900 miles to investigate Solomon's persona and kingdom, she must have sensed her advantage. Large quantities of gold, exotic spices, and unique gifts accompanied her. But Solomon's wisdom took her breath away. The tables were turned. He spoke to her heart. Isn't one greater than Solomon amongst us?

There are elements in life that draw us to the surface like a cork. The fear of rejection, acceptance by the group, the need for love and importance, as well as our bodily needs for food, water, and shelter draws us to the surface. Here we starve. Here we are tempted. Here we are torn. Here we sin.

In the Gospel of John we see the interaction between the "surface people" and Christ and his penetrating words. Interestingly, we could use the story of John 5 as an analogy of surface living and its' impotency. 

The legend of the day was that "an angel went down at a certain season with the pool, and troubled the water...And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity 38 years." (John 5:4 and 5) There is a lot of action on the surface but no real change. A lot of words and noise but nothing stunning. The surface water never helped him; it only exacerbated his problem. 

Comparatively, using another story from the same Gospel, we read "Jesus answered and said unto her, 'If thou knew the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water'. The woman saith unto him, 'Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep...'." (John 4:10 and 11)

On one hand, living on the surface of life does not really change me. On the other hand, Christ is fascinating, marvelous, refreshingly bold and real. Ministering is not about people maintaining their niceness, or socially capable people enjoying their skills. It is about real awesome change.

Ministry is born in the hearts of people when Christ transcends layers and introduces Himself to them. They are now newly motivated. They think differently. They know Him. Their life is now new. Like in Song of Solomon, the one loved is enraptured by her lover. When we have met Him and understood His understanding and love for us, we enjoy the deep water. We are designed to be loved by nothing less than the infinite God.

The superficial life of man is easy. We even enjoy it momentarily. 

In the words of Blaire Pascal - "Man is infinitely more than man." We are cheating ourselves if we have not met Christ; if we have not met this challenging Person; and if we have not had the sweet release of being held accountable and responsible by those penetrating eyes of love and forgiveness, and heard those great words "peace be unto you". 

We are cheating ourselves - until we have stood before Him and run the risk of losing something to gain something else. Follow Christ at all costs. Learn of Him by His ministry through His broken ministers. At all costs develop an ear and a disciplined heart to believe and worship Him. At all costs follow Him. He will draw the deep waters out of your heart. Lose the surface life - to gain the deep.