The One That Got Away

We were out fishing at Lake Bella, just my father and I one morning. We had been casting with spoons for quiet some time before finally my father started to catch little ones down the beach farther. I moved down just a little bit and cast my line out a few times. Then when my line was just about to shore, a huge Northern grabbed my line. I fought with that fish trying ever so hard to get that fish up to shore. All we had was a glimpse of it when it jumped it was huge no doubt a true treasure even as Northern go. My dad started to come with the net, but by the time he got to me with the net the fish had broke my line… We caught a few other fish a bullhead and carp but nothing compared to the one that got away.

“Come follow me” Jesus said “and I will make you fishers of men”

Matthew 4:19

A fisher of man is someone who is able to lure the creation to the creator; a person that knows where they stand on his journey with Christ and is willing to help others on their own; someone who is willing to drop everything for God. It means being a Christian; someone who has the unquenchable desire to be Christ like, and follows Him each day of their lives.

So then, how is fishing? Not just ordinary fishing but fishing for man.  Maybe you have had a few nibbles on your line but no solid bites to make you reel in? And if and when somebody did bite on your line how did you react to it? Did you find it to be to hard and cut your line? Or maybe they broke loose from your line? Fishing has it’s ups and downs but ultimately you have to fish where the fish are biting which may just be on the other side of the boat. Turn with me to John 21

    1Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias.[a] It happened this way: 2Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3"I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
    4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"
      "No," they answered.
    6He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
    7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[b] 9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
    10Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."
    11Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

            Have you done everything in your power to get God’s word into the lives of everyone around you? Or do you need to do as the disciples in and through your nets on the other side of the boat?  It is a matter that cannot be neglected for very long because

“No man knows when his hour will come: as fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so men are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them. Ecclesiastes 9:12

            We must allow enough time in our lives to help those in dyer need for hearing the gospel, and it takes far more than throwing a few dollars in the missionary funds. It means ministering to those around us as well, weather it be a neighbor, a coworker, a friend, or even an enemy. There are lots of fish in the sea lets do are part to ensure that God’s word is given to as many of then as possible that there isn’t one that got away. 

            So how would someone get started on their fishing expedition. The first step is always being prepared, having all of the supplies you need starting with selecting what kind of bait to use, what are you going to use to lure humanity into Gods amazing grace. Maybe you will use a spoon as the spoon turns in the water it flickers, turns, and distracts the fish. It’s bait that stands out from all the rest, which lures the fish’s attention. Or maybe you prefer a live bait. Live baits are food for the fish. They provide the fish with necessities for survival that will lure them to your line. Whatever bait you use weather real or fake, once the fish has bit, it’s always important to set the hook to form that inseparable bond that will hold them onto your line and then ever so slowly real them in for the catch.

If you still have not caught on to the symmetry between fishing and fishing for men I will specify even further. Our bait is what we use to lure mankind into our lives weather that be from standing out like the spoon, or by providing for someone something that they desire, being able to speak to them about our own trespasses and showing them what our Savior has done for us. Second comes setting the hook, forming that inseparable bond, becoming friends with the person, and then slowly reeling them into God’s amazing grace. This is the hardest step of the process, you must go slow enough so that it is not rushed but fast enough so they do not get away. We must keep a nice steady pace while utilizing every opportunity to our advantage to minister the gospel.

If you retain anything from this message let it be this…there is a dyer need in this world today for the gospel, a need much greater then any other. The need that will transform their lives if only you would minister to them, to give others the love that Christ has shown onto you. You give a man a fish you feed him for a day but if you teach, a man to fish you will feed him for a lifetime. Become fishers of men for as Romans 10:14 says “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” Don’t allow someone close to you be the one that got away. Take the initiative find a way to minister to their needs build a relationship with them it is your duty as a Christian. People are dying Lets Go Fishing!