Plink . . . plop . . . plink . . . kurplop . . .
Slowly, methodically rocks hit the placid surface of the water . . . plink . . . plop. Each one carries with it a person’s burden or care or fear or sin. In the middle of the Sea of Galilee five boats full of sinful, burdened pilgrims release their fears, their sins, their concerns to the depths of the lake. After the message of Jesus walking on the water and calming His disciples’ fear, all is silent . . . except for the plink . . . kurplop . . . plink of the rocks. As they hit the surface of the water, each one brings the realization of peace or forgiveness or hope or reconciliation. With each plink and plop the gentle power and grace of Jesus restores each pilgrim and reminds them anew not to harden their hearts, but to let go.
Plink . . . plop . . . plink . . . kurplop . . .
Too bad ancient king Saul couldn’t have been on one of the boats in the Galilee. He might have had a different end. Tall, handsome, and proud, Saul was a hard- hearted man, a man of disobedience—a sin which led to his tragic end. Defeated by the Philistines, Saul took his own life on Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:1–6). In triumph the Philistines cut off his and his sons’ heads and hung their naked bodies on the wall of Beth-shan (31:7–10). And though the brave men of Jabesh-gilead came and gave Saul and his sons an honorable burial, his life ended in shame (31:11–13). If Saul had only given up his sin, released it and obeyed God, then his end might have come to honor instead of humiliation. But he chose to hold on tight to his disobedience, his pride, and his sin, and his life ended in ruin—just as the city of Beth-shan lies in ruins today.
Such is the fate of all of us if we choose to hang on tightly to our sins, our fears, our burdens—our lives will end in ruins. But if we choose to let go, trusting Christ to forgive our sins, calm our fears, and carry our burdens, then we can end our lives in peace, hope, and reconciliation.
It’s only a matter of softening your heart, of letting go.
Plink . . . plop . . . plink . . . kurplop . . .
