Getting Comfortable In The Boat

In scripture, any time you see boat, think also of throne. Think about a boat for a second. It's allows one to be totally isolated - untouchable by everyone else. This is one reason that Jesus found it to be a handy teaching platform. Ephesians tells us that we are seated with God in heavenly places. We also sit with Him on His throne! Only... we aren't comfortable there. Remember the disciples during the storm? They were freaking out while Jesus was sleeping. As children of the King, we need to get comfortable with the throne perspective.

In the Old Testament, what was the word for boat? Noah built one: ark. Then in Exodus, Moses was told to build a box - and it was called the 'Ark'. And upon that ark was a 'mercy seat'. It was were God came down to sit and converse with His priests! Do you see the similarities between the boat and the throne? In case you think this a stretch, many thrones of that day were fashioned in much the same way as the ark - complete with Cherubs! The High Priest was on an island away from the rest of humanity - just like Noah in the flood. The throne is a physical picture of sanctification.

Mat 13:2 ESV
(2) And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.

Rev 4:6 ESV
(6) and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind...

What a great teaching platform... a boat! A throne! There are some things that we will NEVER be able to show the world without a heart-knowledge that we sit upon a throne with God.

Eph 2:4-6 ESV
(4) But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
(5) even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--
(6) and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

So we are seated with Jesus - on the throne. But also remember that Jesus didn't 'need' the boat. He walked on water! Jesus used that perspective as a tool to reach the lost. We are sanctified, not to lord ourselves over others, but to draw others into a relationship with the One who sanctified us! Think differently!