Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: FINISH (05/26/16)
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TITLE: OVERWHELMING WATERS | Previous Challenge Entry
By Robert Johnston
05/29/16 -
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God’s finish line for the faithful is rarely captured in a momentary spiritual victory, or achievement to be celebrated during life’s journey. Such fleeting victories and achievements will invariably be followed by vicious attacks from the enemies of faith. When the faithful cross God’s finish line it will most likely be a time of exhaustion, like a bruised and battered competitor who stumbles across the finish line gasping for air.
Such was the torment of David who felt his life slipping away as he cried out for a deliverer. David is a type (forerunner) of Christ, whose calling and mission was to enshrine his faith in the Psalms. David’s sins were ever before him, especially at this time. Enemies of the faithful are like birds of prey that know when the end is near. These scavengers mocked and taunted David and he knew it was because he had boldly proclaimed his faith before the people. His life was crumbling because of sin and David feared those faithful to God would be put to shame because of his failures. Helplessness is the best way to describe David when he cried, “There is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, where the floods overwhelm me.” (Psalm 69:2, AMP)
David’s despair, in thinking he would drown in sin before he could cross the finish line, was captured by John Bunyan when he wrote about a faithful man named Christian who swam through the deep River of Death and felt that same despair. Christian believed he would drown in that river before reaching the beautiful gate on the other side. His past sins, like deep swirling water, overflowed him, and he believed they would keep him from reaching the shore. In his last drowning moment of feeling failure, distress, and helplessness the Lord reached out to him through Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you.” Suddenly, Christian felt the sand under his feet and he could walk to the shore.1
The dilemma of David and Christian is not isolated. It is common to those who are faithful to their calling. Submerged in overflowing water Christian had heard the voice of the Lord, as did David, and they understood that the Lord shared the taunts of the ungodly and the shame of Satan’s accusations with them. The Lord comforted David, assuring him his suffering was not in vain or alone. He told David what was predestined for him, “They gave me also gall (poisonous and bitter) for my food, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar (a sour wine) to drink,” (Psalm 69:2 AMP)
David, in his weakness, no longer felt alone or helpless. David and the Lord became one in their time of suffering. Alone and forsaken on the cross, Jesus would later remember when he shared David’s suffering: “Jesus, knowing that all was finished (ended), said in fulfillment of the Scripture, I thirst (Ps. 69:21.) A vessel (bowl) full of sour wine (vinegar) was placed there, so they put a sponge soaked in the sour wine on (a stalk, reed of) hyssop, and held it to (His) mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine He said, it is finished! And he bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” (John 19:28-30, AMP) He died “despised and rejected and forsaken by men.” (Isaiah 53:3)
“It” is finished!
Jesus was about age thirty-three when he was crucified. The apostle Paul lived only thirty-two years after his conversion, yet they both proclaimed “it” is finished just before they died. Were they speaking of their life or of the mission God called them to do? Jesus knew his mission, and Paul was told his mission when he was converted. He was also told how much he would suffer to accomplish it (Acts 9:15-16). We can all say our life is finished when we come to its end, but can we say “it” is finished?
John Bunyan retold by James H. Thomas, Pilgrims Progress, in Today’s English, (Chicago; Moody Press, 1964), 151-153
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