When He Calls Us to the Other Side

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ (Mark 4:35)

Mark 4:35-41; Ps. 3:5 and 4:8; Jer. 29:11-13; Matt. 14:28-38

What Is God Saying?

Galilee is usually calm. John Greenleaf Whittier expressed what many of us feel as we look at that historic body of water, ‘O sabbath rest of Galilee, O calm of hills above.’ However, there are times when the winds whip the placid lake into frightening unrest. So it was when a storm suddenly came upon the disciples while they (with Jesus) were crossing from one side of the lake to the other. They had reason to be afraid. The waves rocked the boat and flooded over the sides into the vessel. Jesus was physically drained from the demands of ministry to the multitudes on the shores of Galilee and was ‘asleep on a cushion in the stern of the boat.’ Fearing for their lives, the disciples awakened Him, saying, ‘Master, do You not care if we perish?’ He awoke and saw the fear on their faces and the reason for it. Then He spoke to the raging wind, saying, '‘Peace! Be still!' and the wind ceased and there was a great calm.’ The disciples saw God in action and asked themselves, ‘Who then is this that even the wind and sea obey Him?’ The One who called on them to cross to the other side was able, despite fearful and forbidding circumstances, to make that crossing safe, secure, and calm.

How Does This Apply To Us?

When Jesus calls upon us to go across to the other side, He has a reason. If we are in His will and obey His call, He will be with us despite any storm or threatening danger. Remember He said, ‘Let us go.’ He went with them all the way across. He is greater than any storm that may rock our boat. So when Jesus calls us to make a change, to cross to the other side, to do something for Him (and with Him) that calls us out of our comfort zone, through times of darkness and fearful storms, He is still in the boat and He is still in control.

Is it a change in work? Is it a problem in business or personal relationships? Is it something that calls for a decision to do the right thing, even though the cost seems too great? Is it asking forgiveness, writing a letter, taking a lonely stand, speaking the truth in love? Whatever storms may come, if He calls us to the other side, He will go with us all the way. As He spoke to the disciples in the perilous storm, He speaks to us when we are seeking to do His will, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?’ To the other side and on the other side, He is always with us.

Pray With Me

Lord, there is one day in every life which will be known as that day. Perhaps that day was when we realized the emptiness and futility of a self-dominated life and in our need we cried out to the all-sufficient Christ. He came to us as the daylight hours were fading. His lovely form appeared as tears of remorse and sorrow were blurring our vision. His strong hand reached out as our hope was dying and our strength was ebbing away and He spoke, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ That day and this. That side and this. The contrast is blackest black and whitest white. Redeemed from despair and rescued from self, ours is the quiet strength of hope and the deep joy of purposeful living.

Then, there is the day, O Lord, when in very truth the evening of this life will have come, ‘When our busy world is hushed and the fever of life is over and our work is done.’ We wait for the coming of that day, not as if we were slaves to the terror-filled inevitable. We do not wait for its coming as cowards in the face of the frightening uncertain. No, we wait in the full and glad assurance that in the gathering darkness of evening, we will see our Redeemer. We will see the reassuring smile of a wonderfully able and caring Friend. We wait in certain trust that we will hear our Master say, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’

Let us: alone does He send us into the unknown.

Go across: whatever storms may come, whatever darkness may descend, we "go across", all the way across.

To the other side: where life is radiant with our Savior's presence, where there is neither lie nor abomination, where all is true and all is good and all is forever beautiful.

When we face that day, when evening comes, may we believe it is only the threshold to the other side. Give us the joy of believing we will be with Him and He with us.

To the praise of His saving and keeping grace. Amen.

Moving On In The Life of Prayer

In prayer, we find His side. It may be this side, but it could be the other side. Whatever it is, don't be afraid to seek His guidance and obey His will. That's what prayer is all about.