I read an article about Chinook Salmon recently. It surprised me to find that they have become endangered/threatened. The article stated these salmon are becoming less prevalent in the Columbia River tributaries and California breeding sites. Oregon, Idaho, and Washington rivers and streams have noticed this impact as well. I thought Salmon populations were extremely healthy. I had no idea that they were struggling at all. When considering the trek they have to make to increase in number, it is no wonder their numbers are depleting.
The Salmon hatches in a freshwater stream or river and, if it survives to become an adult (only a small percentage of eggs survive), they then travel to the ocean. During their travels, fishermen pose a large risk for salmon. They risk becoming the prey of bears and large birds. The Salmon could also be harmed by pollution or habitat that has been damaged by erosion or temperature change.
They run a similar risk once they reach the ocean. Fishermen are again a risk for the salmon. Or they might be eaten by harbor seals or orca. They could also be harmed by pollution or habitat that has been damaged by erosion or temperature change. Then, they have to travel all the way back to their freshwater habitat to spawn and lay the next generation of Salmon, running those risks all over again in an attempt to increase in number.
This perilous trek made me think of the life of a Christian. The goal of a salmon isn’t merely to exist. It is to increase in number and, as part of God’s creation, to bring God glory. “How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number– living things both large and small.” Psalm 104:24-25.
The goal of a Christian is not merely to exist, either. It is to increase the number of God’s children and glorify God. “Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them” Isaiah 43:7 (NLT).
Like the Salmon, we too will face a perilous journey with many risks and/or tribulations.
The scripture warns us that we will face trials. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you face trials of various kinds. James 1:2. This verse says when we face trials, not if. As God’s children, we will face trials.
We will face persecution. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 2 Timothy 3:12.
People will mock and persecute us for our faith. ““Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12.
Christians have suffered for their faith for thousands of years. And they will continue to suffer. But we will all receive a great reward in Heaven!
Our bodies age and our health deteriorates. “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day”. 2 Corinthians 4:16.
We will struggle with the issues of aging and physical ailments. Even the apostle Paul suffered physically. Our physical bodies will decay. They will deteriorate. But God renews our spirits daily. And, when we get to Heaven, we will receive a new and imperishable body! “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.” 2 Corinthians 5:1.
Predators seek out the salmon for food. And so are we. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8.
But if we will be on the alert and resist him, God will restore us and strengthen us. “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”. 1 Peter 5:9-10.
Yes, we will have trials but, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19. God will walk with us through them and He will deliver us safely to the other side of those trials.
But I have even better news! Our survival rate is much better than that of the salmon! We are immortal. “I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:50-55.
And all of this suffering is not for naught. God uses it to increase in number the children of God. He uses it to rescue those who are enslaved by sin and riddled with shame so that they might know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. And they might experience true freedom… for eternity!
Because God comforts us in our trials, we can comfort others… to His glory. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” 2 Corinthians 2:3-4.
And, when others see how we trust God in the midst of trials, they will want a relationship with Him too. When they see how He walks with us through trials they will want Him to walk with them too. “But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.” 1 Peter 3:14-15. That is when we can tell them about who He is and we can help them to seek Him. When we walk with Jesus, God can use us to increase in number the sons and daughters of God.
So, count it all joy, my brothers. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” James 1:2. Because, to quote the apostle Paul, the suffering in this life is nothing when we compare it to what waits for us in Heaven. “For I consider the sufferings of this life to be nothing, compared to the glory that awaits us.” Romans 8:18.
So, we can persevere through trials knowing that God is right there with us. He will get us through it. And we glorify Him to a lost and dying world when we do.
Father God, forgive us when we lack faith in our trials. Forgive us when we allow the enemy to cause us to focus on the trial and not on you. Forgive us for not keeping our eyes on the things above but instead become enveloped in our sufferings. Thank you for your promises, Father. Thank you for your faithfulness. And thank you for our Savior and the cross. Be glorified in us, Lord.
Have you been through trial after trial? Have you struggled to find peace? Struggled to find hope? Jesus is that peace and hope. God wants to walk with you through your trials. He wants to hold your hand like a good father would. He wants to increase the number of sons and daughters that He has. And He wants to adopt you and call you His own. All that He requires is a simple prayer. A prayer prayed with your whole heart. Please go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that you find outlined there. Pray it from the bottom of your heart.
Once you have, you will be a child of God! When you pray that prayer, please reach out to me. You can email me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com. I’d love to hear from you. I would love to be in prayer with and for you. Please pray that prayer.
Luv Ya!
