Navigating Life's Journey
Every fall, Pacific salmon return to spawn in the rivers where they were born. The voyage often involves battling adverse conditions in order to reach their final destination. Ultimately, the salmon must die in order to fulfill their purpose. While science has shed light on some of life's mysteries, the migration mechanism of this simple organism is still unclear. Scientist and author Denis Dreves concludes, "The mystery of migration is still only vaguely understood, and is another of the many evidence of intricate design found in created things" (Dreves 1996).
Our lives often mirror the journey of the salmon. We are driven by a sense of purpose that motivates us to overcome obstacles, search for meaning, and strive to pass on a legacy. Many of us hope that time, intuition, and perseverance will reveal our destiny. Nevertheless, our purpose in life remains hidden from us as long as we are separated from God (Mark 4: 11-12).
Just as God installed directional finding capabilities in the birds of the air, fish in the water, and creatures on the ground, so has he done with his beloved human creation. The Bible says, "Speak to the earth, and it will teach you; and the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all of mankind?" (Job 12: 8-10).
For humans, returning home means returning to God. The Bible tells us, "Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them" (Psalms 139:16). Proverbs 19:21 tells us, “There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the Lord's counsel--that will stand.”
Unfortunately, many of us take the wrong path on our journey home. We fill our natural aspiration for God with earthly desires. Yearning for righteousness is replaced with a desire for sin. Ultimately for us, the journey does not end in death as with the salmon, but life continues through God's gift of salvation in the Messiah.
Jesus' sacrifice at the cross released us from the slavery of sin and freed us from our iniquities. His blood redeems us from the penalty of death. Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
It's not natural to deny God. We were created in His image from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7). When we try to deny Him in our conscious mind our heart tells us differently. The rejection of God is the reason many live in confusion. Each of us experiences a migration of the heart by choosing to accept or deny Him. Either we draw closer to God on our journey or we separate ourselves from His love (James 4:8).
The course of the world was forever changed when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1: 14). As the salmon return to fulfill their purpose, so did the Son of God return to fulfill His purpose. Accepting Jesus as our Savior unites us with the Father and aligns us with His will. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6).
God's purpose for your life can only be revealed through a personal relationship with Jesus. Over time, your walk with the Lord will cause you to grow and mature. You will be tested by fire and encouraged with faith. Remember Paul's words, "Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by His power, and everything is for His glory." (Romans 11:36 LB).
I pray that if you have not already done so, please consider God's offer of salvation. Let Him give you peace of heart by repenting of your sins and asking Jesus Christ to be your personal Savior. In closing, I want to remind you of a story from the Old Testament. There was once a man by the name of Jonah who desperately tried to do his own will, but it took the intervention of God and a fish (yes a fish), to point him in the right direction.
REFERENCESAll citations from the New King James Bible (unless otherwise noted).
Dreves, D. (1996, June). Pacific Salmon: The ocean's high achievers. Creation Magazine, 18 (3), 26-28.
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