Fishing

Sunday, Mar 13, as I sat quietly waiting on God, I realized I kept hearing the same words over and over:  "Big Fisherman."  and "I caught."
I started listening more closely: "Look at the fish I caught! It's about Fishing.  Time to fish some more."

Then, I saw the island of Japan sinking like the Titanic into the ocean (two days later a prayer partner refered to Japan as the Titanic). It's eastern edge was submerged and it's western edge was rising up out of the w.ater, but a huge fishing hook held it tight from sinking all the way.  This was a "fishing expedition" but it was also a rescue of a sinking ship.  The Lord began to ask me what's going to happen.  Basically: Is this disaster about judgment, or salvation?  "It's your choice," he said!   Will Japan sink or will it be caught and brought up by the hook of salvation? The prayers, faith, and actions of God's people will decide the matter.  (The next day I saw a horrible video posted by a naive young lady rejoicing in the terror and destruction upon Japan, as if the mass destruction were in direct answer to HER prayers concerning atheists.  This is the kind of attitude Christians are NOT to give a hurting world or the savior who gave his life for them, but underscores the importance of our own thoughts and words as the fate of many hangs in the balance)   Will we say they deserved it and make it about judgment alone, or lift our voices in faith in God's love and thus draw redemption toward that nation?

The Lord impressed on me the words of Jesus, "Cast your nets onto the other side of the boat."   I remembered how it has been said that after WWII America was given a chance to tell Japan about our God.  Eastern peoples very much believe in the power of the gods and since we had won the war they believed our God was greater, and they wanted to know him.  But western society seems to have much more on its mind, and instead of showing them the one true God, we gave them technology and economics, which they very definitely put to good use, surpassing us in many ways in the years to come.  Are Christians now being given a second chance to bring Christ to a humbled and broken Japan?  (In no way do I imply that American Christianity is the answer, or that America is in much better spiritual state than Japan right now.... only that Christ himself  -not capitalism, democracy, or technology- is the answer for the entire broken world.)  Are we being given a second chance to "fish" for Japan?

Fish are Nations:   I can't remember exactly where I recently heard this taught, but the point was about the great catch of fish the disciples made when Jesus met them on the shore of Galilee after his resurrection.  He told them to cast their net to the other side and they brought in exactly 153 fish.  It doesn't say a "bunch" of fish, or  a "more than usual number" of fish, but precisely 153.  Turns out that at that time in history there were 154 nations in the known world, including Israel.... the fish Jesus already had dressed and on the fire probably represented Israel.  He had originally called them to be "fishers of men," and now he was confirming that, though they had as of yet affected only one nation, he was giving them the rest of the nations of the earth as well, if only they would cast their net afresh.  This  makes me realize that the "end times harvest" is not just about individuals, though God loves individuals.  It is about "peoples, nations, tribes and tongues".  It's about Japan.  It's about the United States.  It is about countries that practically take up whole continents and about tiny island nations.  Is that why he put little ol' Tobago on my heart?  Japan, the US, Egypt, and others are the focus of the world right now, but God sees ALL nations, and they are all big and important to him. 

He has promised to catch them all.  Trouble is now upon us, but he is not about whisking away poor little waifes out of hardship.  He is about the full net of fish, hearty fishermen, and a spotless bride made of nations. It makes me think, "what is my job, my fishing hook?"  We are each given a gift and a measure of faith.  Is it praying?  Giving?  Going?  Legislating?   Healing?  Preaching?  It takes every hand on deck to bring in a heavy net.