There is an ocean known for its fury. Its waters close to the coast are calm and serene, but when looking further away, it is possible to see its agitated waters that run from one side to the other.
Few are those who venture, sometimes men, women and even children, taken by their courage in the deepest waters. It is said that those who are completely submerged never return.
And indeed, why would they return? When diving into these waters, they are taken by peace, an inexplicable peace. They are taken to adventures that would never be taken, but mainly, they live what without that Raging Ocean, they would never live.
Rumors about the ocean are spread by those who observe from afar, not daring to go a little further than the waters that reach their waists. Otherwise, they would be with those who have gone deeper.
The ocean
For a long time, I heard the text of Ezekiel 47 about the torrents of water, being compared to our relationship with the Lord. Instead of an ocean, the chapter talks about a river, in which the Prophet is carried deeper and deeper to a point where he could only swim across.
When it comes to the comparison with God, I like to talk about the ocean, because of its infinite dimension and the intensity of its presence. Those people who venture to dive deeper and deeper into the presence of this God, in a relationship with Him, feel that the Same flows through them, they feel the Holy Spirit working in their lives.
And that’s exactly what happens to the story of people who venture into the Raging Ocean. Those who truly and deeply know never return far from the presence of this God, for in it they are completely satiated. As Jesus says in John 4:14: “but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life”.
The Fear of Going Deeper
“When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die’. Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning’. The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was
Êxodo 20:18-21
As narrated in this text of Exodus 20:18-21, the people were afraid of the presence of God and asked that Moses just approach the cloud of the presence of God. And indeed the intense and furious presence of God produced thunder, lightning and smoke. However, Moses encouraged the people to come closer, for he knew that God did not want to intimidate or destroy them, yet the people remained at a distance.
We today can approach and dive into the ocean of God’s presence. It is not just Moses who encourages us, but we can walk under the authority of Christ’s name and work. As it is written in Hebrews 10, the blood of Jesus has opened a new and living way for us. We can have full confidence to step into the Most Holy Place.
God bless you,
Ana.
