Backwater

Backwater

When something is floating down a river, it is possible for it to end up in a backwater and remain there firmly stuck. During our voyage to heaven, together with our more or less sinful fellow-brethren, it is also possible to end up in a backwater and remain there firmly stuck, preventing any further progress.

The thing that enables us to make progress is that we find, judge, and put off our own errors, our own sin. What, then, is the backwater of our voyage to heaven? It is to take note of and be offended by the foolish things the others do! So one lies there firmly stuck. One does not make progress until one has paid the last penny!

Gliding into a backwater is so foolish! There is nothing that is more foolish on earth. The one who walks off with the gain is none other than the arch-enemy of us all, Satan. Granting him a gain is backwards, because he is in no need of gain!

Let them be in the wrong, unjust, backbiters, hypocrites, impossible, and behave like Judas every one if they must. It makes it only worse for them. That is no reason for me to cast my anchor in the backwater, in a mud puddle. There is no reason for me to cast my anchor in a mud puddle simply because the others did something wrong. That is quite pointless!

If that is your attitude, dear friend, then give orders to your boat right away: “All hands on deck. Heave the anchor!” Get a tugboat in front of the bow and set course for the fresh water current. Set sail! Full speed ahead!

Yours, by God’s grace, sailing blessedly in the current,