Job 9:8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. NIV
Surf’s Up!
Not many people might imagine God as ‘The Celestial Surfer.’ Not many people imagine the God of heaven, clutching His gigantic board, running towards the crashing waves, His great feet leaving large imprints in the sand, kicking up the granules into the wind as He crashes headlong into the surf shouting “Cowabunga!” and paddling like ‘Billio’ towards the shivering mass of humanity, all bobbing like lost bouys and screaming for help, pleading for some savior as the deep begins to suck them down to the cold dark depths beneath. Well allow me tonight, to please paint you a picture of God the great ‘Celestial Surfer,’ God the eternal lifeguard, looking out to sea upon those He will save.
On this day in 1911, the Hawaiian Amateur Athletic Union excitedly telegraphed the Union headquarters officials in New York with some astonishing news. The folks in charge receiving the news however, were quite incredulous and reportedly replied to the telegram saying, “What are you using for stop watches? Alarm clocks?!” You see, the Hawaiian AAU had reported that the then swimming record for the 100 yards free style, had been smashed to smithereens in Honolulu harbour! It was in fact Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku, who had taken 4.6 seconds off the record, who by the way, also went on to become a three-time Olympic gold medal winner in swimming!The Polynesian people and the Hawaiians in particular, invented the art of surfing! In his youth after school, down on Waikiki beach, Duke Kahanamoku used a traditional surfboard, constructed after the fashion of ancient Hawaiian boards. His surfboard, made from the wood of a Koa tree, was sixteen feet long and weighed 114 pounds! Between Olympic competitions, Duke Kahanamoku travelled the world giving swimming exhibitions and guess what? Yes, he also incorporated surfing exhibitions into his routine. He was such an advocate and propagator of this ancient art, that today he is now regarded as the ‘Father of Modern Surfing.’
Bronzed bodies, long blond straggly sun-bleached hair, baggy beach pants, slinky walks and lots of “Hey dude-ing!” might conjure up pictures of the modern surfer but I tell you, that it was an incident in California, in 1925 on Newport beach, that really pictures for us our celestial surfer of a God.
In heavy and pounding surf, Duke Kahanamoku rescued eight men from a fishing vessel that capsized while attempting to enter the city’s harbour. Twenty-nine fishermen went into the water and seventeen perished. However, Duke Kahanamoku, using his surfboard, was able to make quick trips back and forth to rescue as many sailors as he possibly could. Along with him, two other surfers saved four more fishermen. At the time, Newport’s Police Chief called Duke's efforts ‘The most superhuman surfboard rescue act the world has ever seen!’ What a trinity of surfing saviours were seen in California on that most disastrous of Newport harbour days.
Our text today poetically paints for us, the great feet of our great God, treading down the pounding surf. Yes, here in our text for tonight, Job paints for us God, treading down upon the waves of disaster; paints for us God, treading down upon the waves of death; paints for us God, treading upon the hungry waves of justice with the strength of a warrior, bending down His bow to string it in preparation for war, or, like a conquering army marching into the land which they intend to possess, Job paints for us God, treading down with confidence and authority the rising and the revolting of the enemy before Him. In out text for tonight, God like a bronzed and strong, mighty celestial surfer, stands unperturbed, stands with majestic authority, right in the middle of a drowning humanity, lifting and saving, carrying and caring, cosseting and caressing those He has pulled from the deep, delivering them safe to heaven’s most beautiful shore.
What storms are you in tonight dude? Stop worrying, for your Mighty God is strong to save and treads with rescuing and conquering authority, upon all the waves of all your mountainous seas.
Listen:- But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” Matthew 8:26-27 NKJV
Pray:- But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, in the acceptable time; O God, in the multitude of Your mercy, hear me in the truth of Your salvation. Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink; let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the floodwater overflow me, nor let the deep swallow me up; and let not the pit shut its mouth on me. Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies and do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in trouble; hear me speedily. Draw near to my soul, and redeem it; deliver me because of my enemies. Psalms 69:13-18
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