Coasting and Surfing

Many of faith-based questions I have been asked recently involve salvation, being saved, and the simple belief in Christ. Through salvation, we are saved. The act of “confess with your mouth and believe in your heart Jesus is Lord- you will be saved- for it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

This is salvation in its purest form. Confession with your mouth and belief in your heart.

Salvation saves us from sin and gives us eternal life. Yes, this is true. However, when Jesus died he had more in store than afterlife accommodations. Jesus did not want us to just receive salvation and be saved from eternal damnation. No. He wanted us to receive life and life abundantly. Look at his perspective in the Gospel of John.

John 10:10, Jesus said, “A thief only has one thing in mind- he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance- life in its fullness until you overflow!”

In my life and story, I received salvation when I was five years old in kindergarten, because of the Bible verse, Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

That fateful day- I heard Jesus knocking on the door of my heart- and I opened the door. Even though from that day forward I was a Christian, I lived a checklist faith. I prayed and did my daily devotionals out of obligation instead of desire. I coasted through my faith but I was not changed by it. I was legalistic and judgmental- much like the Pharisees- but I was not spirit filled. In fact, I had immense knowledge of scripture- but I didn’t allow it to change me. Fear dominated my life.

I felt as if everyone else was in on a secret I was not privy to. I just didn’t get it. Nothing clicked. My faith wasn’t exciting. It was really kind of bla!

I coasted. To coast is obsolete- to move along or past the side of- to skirt by. For twenty years, I lived an existence of skirting through my faith because I just didn’t get grasp that there was so much in store for me.

I guarantee had the author of Hebrews been alive in our day, these are the words they would have spoken over me, “We have so much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn.” Hebrews 5:11

I may have been extremely knowledgeable about Biblical concepts, but my spiritual understanding was nil.

To continue, “In fact though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!” Hebrews 5:12

Even though, for the past twenty years I had known God’s truth in my mind, at that time, I could only receive milk. God was shaking me with the potential he saw in me. “Kierstin it is time to grow up in Christ.” Since I lived a coasting and complacent faith, I had no idea he was chasing after me! I didn’t know his voice and I couldn’t hear it clearly.

There was far too much in my life leaving me encumbered. My heart was not ready to receive, nor was my spirit willing to listen. I was not growing- I was stuck!

It took a tragic event that shook and shattered my status quo to finally escape complacency. I said, “What am I so afraid of- what is the worst thing that could possibly happen?” Fear has hindered me for as long as I could remember. I couldn’t be all in with God because I was plagued by what ifs and anxiety. Breaking free from fear enabled the Holy Spirit to take over and fill me. I wasn’t willfully holding back anymore.

From that day forward, everything changed. I craved scripture. I longed for God’s presence. All the sudden, I was privy to this secret language I never knew; I understood scripture in a new way. It was if the Spirit unlocked a new life in me- one that was enthusiastic and all-in for the kingdom. Jesus became my friend. I could hear voice clearly and consistently. The Holy Spirit influenced everything I did and every part of me. Instead of just coasting, I learned to surf!

Surfing is radical. It is dangerous and doesn’t allow you to play it safe. You must be all-in, to ride the waves with precision, and be willing to get back up and ride again when you fall. The spirit filled life is exciting and engaging. Each new day presents an opportunity for God to move in a radical way. He was always moving but I lacked the spiritual vision to recognize his fingerprints. Now I see them everywhere. I once was spiritually blind but I now I see clearly the beauty God has in store.

Now let me ask and challenge YOU- what is encumbering you? Is it fear, like me? Is it desire for things of this world? Is it shame because of things you have done?

Recognize today you are, first and foremost, a citizen of heaven. So, we have got to stop living as people of this world! For nothing will satisfy until you enter the presence of our most Holy God!

Surrender and find peace, joy, and a love unexplainable! Watch God change you from the inside out. I have no greater desire for you- and all of us- to stop coasting and begin to surf. Surfing in the spirit leads to abundant life. And trust me- there is no greater thrill.