Get Back On Track
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Pastor Art Pena
Text: Matthew 14:24-34
A few years back, our church co-sponsored a Seattle-area concert featuring singer-actress, Pinky De Leon, Timmy Pavino, a local up-and-coming talent and a group called “Back On Track”. The production was also “exported” to British Columbia, Canada the following night. During the concert, as part of their intro, one of the group members would say a little something about their chosen name. The gist is that many times we choose to go our way – the wrong way. Sometimes we take the right course but experience life’s turbulence that gets us off-track. But God through Jesus gets us back on track.
Turbulence. Life’s nasty weather fronts. We’ve all experienced them! Dark clouds, torrential rains, howling winds and roaring waves! It could be that your journey right now is taking you through a dark and stormy time. There may be apprehension and panic. There may be questions about which way to go. Turning back, getting off-track or bailing out looks like the best recourse. But your Father in heaven can see the whole road, and today He’s saying to you, “Just keep going. Drive a few more miles – sail for a little bit longer and you’ll start to see the sunshine!”
The danger is that some of you turn another way and get off track just before the breakthrough – just before the answer to your prayers. There’s a vivid, real-life example of what that looks like in Matthew 14:24-34. Jesus has sent His disciples on ahead of Him. They were crossing the unpredictable Sea of Galilee in a boat. Suddenly, as the Gospel writer puts it, their boat was being “buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.” Does that sound like a fair description of how you feel right now – “buffeted by the waves”?
The Bible goes on to say that “during the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified … But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ ‘Lord, if it’s You,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to You on the water.’ ‘Come,’ He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ He said, ‘why did you doubt?’”
Now, I know we’re shifting back and forth between land and sea travel but the experiences and lessons are parallel.
You started down the road you’re on right now by faith, counting on Jesus to get you there. The disciples were on the same predicament on their sea journey. And like Peter, the wind, the rain and the waves may be brutal right now. So you’ve stopped focusing on Jesus and you started to focus on what you can do. You started to be affected by the elements. Your fear has gotten the best of you and you’re starting to sink. You got off-track!
Give Peter some credit. People criticize him for losing faith, but he was the only one who had enough faith to even get out of the boat and try to walk on water, right?
Peter had some faith, but, sadly, it was only “halfway there” faith. And it was enough faith to get him – just halfway there. Folks, it’s not the storm that’s going to sink you or get you off-track. It’s going to be “halfway there” faith.
It was Jesus who helped you walk on water this far. He’s always got you on the right track and He will get you the rest of the way there. So get your focus back on Jesus! His word is: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
It’s dark now. But don’t doubt in the darkness what God told you in the light!!! He knows what you’re going through, but He also knows what’s ahead. And He’s telling you, “Get back on track and keep going! Before long, you’ll see the Son shining bright!!!”
