I was watching a show on Netflix and the biologist who was following the salmon run said:  “Imagine living out the purpose of your existence perfectly?”

 

Salmon have it figured out.  They are born in the protective gravel of a river bed, eat the sack they are born in in order to survive in the protection of the rocks, grow slowly as they lose their camouflage, and migrate to the ocean when they are large enough to fend for themselves.  Their life-cycle is, like many animals, miraculous.

 

Think about it…..these salmon survive in the gravel bottom of a river, grow, change camoflage, change their systems so that they can survive in salt water, migrate to the ocean, grow for 3-4 years, develop the ability to reproduce, and then…….migrate 900 miles and climb 7000 feet so they can reproduce.

 

How do they know where to go?

How is it that their body changes to live in saltwater and their mind knows to swim to the ocean?

How do they know what to do AFTER they mature to be ready to reproduce?

 

They are, to put it simply, designed to thrive and survive.

 

So are we.…..whether we believe it or not.

Psalm 139  14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

 

I encourage you to read the entire chapter–Psalm 139.  God tells us who we are….and how we are to relate to him.  The salmon already know……and so should we.  For today, let’s just focus on knowing that we are

  • Fearfully and wonderfully made
  • Built to worship and take awe in the God that designed us
  • Designed to live out our existence in a miraculous way

 

Looking at salmon….I am utterly amazed.  Their lives, as individuals and as a species, are incredible.  Their ability to adapt.  Their ability to know what to do.  Their tenacity and effort in returning to their birthplace….the entire life cycle is incredible.

 

And so it is with us.

Just like the salmon, we have been given the ability to adapt….our eyes refocus and see.  Our minds can learn.  Our hearts beat harder when we work harder and slow down when we rest.  Just like the salmon, we have an incredible spirit within us that fights and strives.

But ultimately the similarities stop.  Unlike the salmon, we have an inner sense that seems to know right from wrong.  Unlike the salmon, man has fallen out of his nature and lost his way.  We have NOT lived out the purpose of our existence perfectly…..we have failed.

 

Enter Jesus.  The perfecter of our lives and the author of our story.

 

2000 years ago He made the migration to earth, carried out His assignment perfectly, and migrated that great distance so that we could be born into the Kingdom.

 

Where we fall short in our purpose, He fulfills it perfectly.

 

In Him…….we get to be the miracle.

 

Do not underestimate the power of God working through the hearts of people.  God put something inside of us that sets us apart from His creation.  For we are fearfully and wonderfully made…..what we see in the creation can not measure up to what has the chance to grow within us.

 

Because with Jesus—we have a chance to change not only our destiny…but to plant that seed in others.

 

Father, ignite in me the fire that you destined to be in the hearts of all men.  Let me be a servant to Your Kingdom.  Thy Kingdom come.  Thy Will be done.  On earth as it is in Heaven.

 

In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

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Coach J