Asian Carp Christians

Asian Carp (silver) or bighead carp, were brought over by catfish farmers during the 60’s as a cheap way to keep their hatcheries clean.

They reproduced rapidly, over populated and escaped into the Mississippi River then up into the Great Lakes areas during floods.

Whenever boats get near schools of asian carp, the carp panic, hurling themselves out of the water, often times onto the passing boat. Imagine entire schools of fish leaping frantically out of the water and right toward your head!

People have had broken jaws, broken clavicles, suffered concussions and been knocked unconscious by these huge fish that can grow to 4 ft, and weigh up to 100 lbs.

It’s funny to me that these fish, due to fear and anxiety, will hurl themselves out of the environment in which they survive, and into one that will end in death. They leave the protection of their water source only to die out of it.

How often do Christians leave the will of God because of fear or circumstances in their lives; leave the protection of God’s will, only to end up desolate and destitute in a world not meant for them?

As a child of God, I am a new creature in Jesus Christ! My identity is no longer my own, Christ’s righteousness has been imputed onto me. This, however, does not mean that my flesh has been eradicated. There is within me the capacity to sin, and to live unbecoming of Christ’s identity. This is why each and every day we must, like Daniel, purpose in our hearts that we will not defile ourselves with the world!

1 John 2:15 tells us “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world…” Why do so many Christians hold on to dear life to the very thing that hates them, and wants to destroy their lives?

There is a decision to make; you have a choice! Will you be as the asian carp, fearful, worrisome, and frantically panic throwing yourself out of the protection and joy of God’s will into a world that wants nothing more than to leave you an empty vessel put on the shelf? Or will you decide today, that like Joseph, like Joshua, and like three Hebrew children, that His will is all that matters? Taste and see that the Lord is gracious! Live life on purpose.

2 Tim 2:21 “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

Stephen Underwood
Acts 20:24
www.stephenunderwood.net