Against the current
Salmon and Steelhead Trout are what scientists call anadromous fish. This means that they hatch in fresh water, then swim to the ocean to live out their lives, then return once again to fresh water to spawn. When the tide turns, they literally swim upstream against the current in order to reach their spawning grounds. This strong instinctual behavior to swim against the flow is driven by their need to reproduce. To reproduce they must swim against the tide and jump over many obstacles.
Christians are also called to reproduce because Jesus said to us:
Mark 16:15–16 (NASB95) And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”
And like the Salmon and the Steelhead Trout we must swim against the tide of this world system to reproduce disciples of Jesus. Someone said, “only dead fish go with the tide.”
Paul powerfully said in his letter to the Romans:
Romans 12:2 (NASB95) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Has the transforming power of Jesus so changed your heart and mind that you are not only a disciple of Jesus, but you are also willing to swim against the current to bring the good news of Jesus to someone else?
Love you,