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“Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life.” – Deuteronomy 4:9
Not long ago, a friend and I went canoeing. Canoeing is a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of work. As my friend and I paddled our way down the river, we were able to find a good system for navigating. We had to work together, while also looking ahead for potential dangers.
Finally, we got past the narrow turns, low water, and tree limbs in our way. By then our arms had gotten tired, and it was nice to set our paddles down and simply drift. We laughed and had a good time, not a thing to worry about—or so we thought. Then one of us noticed we had another challenge: a tight spot to squeeze through without running into another canoe or getting bogged down from low water. It would have been far easier to pass by if we had been paying attention and noticed the potential problem sooner. Instead, we really had to work together and keep focused to make it through.
Although it felt good to set our paddles down and drift, we could not do that for very long before finding outselves in a hazardous position. Likewise, as Christians it will take some effort to stay saved. Our focus verse reminds us that we must keep our souls diligently, which means we cannot become lazy and just enjoy our experience of salvation. It is important to seek and receive our deeper experiences, and then to continue growing closer to God. If we are not paying attention, we can begin to drift, and we know Satan is waiting for an opportunity to overturn our vessels. Ephesians 6:13 tells us how to be ready for his devices: “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” To reach our goal, we need all God has for us.
Altogether, my friend and I had five bridges to go under, and as we got close to the final bridge, we were excited. We knew that, after we finished, we would be able to look back and say it was a good trip. Similarly, when we reach our goal of Heaven, like the Apostle Paul we will be able to look back and say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). It is true there will be some rough spots, but it is worth the effort.
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