Beach Vacation: Mission Accomplished

I love to vacation at the beach.

Waves crashing. Sun shining. Sand glistening.

I wake up each morning and step out onto the balcony with my cup of coffee looking for dolphins effortlessly gliding across the top of the water. It's something that’s majestic!

Then it comes time to load up the beach buggy and make the journey down to the white sand beaches of bliss. But not without the dreaded elevator debacle. Anywhere lower than about floor number six is worth the hassle of the stairs. Beach buggy and all.

Finally you get to the beach. You know somebody in the family went down at dawn to set up the tent and umbrellas so there you go darting in the direction of the most glorious of ocean views.

Unpacking snorkels, a frisbee, and sunscreen someone speaks up and asks for a sandwich and a drink. "Seriously? We just got here!"

Kids and sand castles go together like peas and carrots or peanut butter and jelly. It's an almost necessary exercise of skill and imagination. Even writing messages in the sand. There's something about those small grains of sand running through your fingers and toes.

Stretched out on a towel or in your beach chair you watch sea gulls and pelicans diving after a meal like kamikaze pilots into the water. Just as you feel yourself start to drift off in the afternoon ocean breeze you hear the kids making their way to the tent saying, "We want to go to the pool!"

Packing up the beach toys. Breaking down the beach umbrellas. All the beach bums begin to hide like it's the brink of the apocalypse. Trudging your way to the steps with beach bags on each shoulder, a tube around your head, and pulling a cooler you make your way to the courtesy shower. Spraying sand and seaweed out of the cracks and pockets of your beach chairs and swim shorts.

Back to the elevator you go. Smells of sweat and sandy ocean water. Rising temperatures and uncomfortable closeness caused by teetering the maximum capacity limit. Coolers, chairs, beach bags, and skimboards. Awkward stares when the elevator door opens. It's like the Forrest Gump of elevator travel, "this seat's taken!"

Back to the room in a mad dash to shower and change clothes because there's always that one person with the itinerary. Times, locations, details. Out to eat, a quick round of mini golf and go carts, then back to the beach at sunset to get our annual family white shirt beach photo for Christmas cards later this year.

And who could forget a nice cool walk on the beach after dark with flashlights and small nets searching for sand crabs. Only to be followed up with a large bowl of ice cream while watching tomorrow's weather or a recap of the day's sports before bedtime.

The week ends and you pack up the beach house or condo and prepare to make the trek home. Your attitude stuck somewhere in the middle of exhaustion and success. The beach was great. The food was great. Time with family was great. Now you're going back home. Your house. Your bed. Your routine. Vacation ain't easy for the one footing the bill. But looking back you can say, "Mission accomplished!"

Jesus walked the streets and beaches with His closest friends and family like that. Early mornings and late nights observing God's creation in the serenity and quietness of being alone on the shore. Having meals on the beach. Taking the boat out on the water. People watching and conversations as the tides rolled in. Maybe even photo ops with little boys and girls on the big rocks by the bay.

He spent three years with these guys. Guys with different personalities. Different backgrounds. Different stories. Sometimes in tight quarters. But long walks on the beach can change a man. He began to share His heart; His mission. It wasn't a dream vacation. It became more like work.

The stories and parables and miracles. That was probably like amusement parks and beach vacations. People beaming over the multitudes being fed and the lame made to walk. Those moments no doubt were filling up their Instagram and SnapChat feeds daily. #nofilterneeded

But then He began to say things that were disturbing. "I did not come to be served, but to serve. I came to lay down my life, and if I lay it down I will take it up again. I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me."

These words provided the dizzying effect of change. His followers could no longer simply listen to these words and remain the same. It wasn't just a vacation; it had become a mission. Jesus was not aimlessly wandering around the beaches and mountains of Palestine simply looking for a good time. He was intentionally going somewhere. And He invited people to come along with Him.

He took His parables and miracles to the masses to make Himself known. But that was not His ultimate mission. He wasn't looking to impress people with His oration or supernatural abilities to heal the sick and diseased. He came to die that we may live. And by way of the cross and empty tomb He did just that; mission accomplished.

Tipping our beach hats to the words of Jesus from the safety of the shore is easy. It's like building castles in the sand. But refusing to trust and obey will only guarantee that our castles will take a hit when the tides of life come rolling in. Fully embracing the words of Jesus is living a life of faith that believes He is and has done all that He has said!

It's more than splashing through the water and basking in the sun. It's more than re-organizing your thought patterns and priorities. It's a re-orienting of your heart toward the person of Jesus. It's surrender. It's commitment. It's an exchange; His life for yours. It's not a week long vacation; it's a life long mission. And it's you banking your life on the One who's footed the bill!