Several years ago, we were on an after-camp canoe trip. Annually we would go down to the Mohican river with 50-60 students between our churches and spend the day floating down 7 miles of the river.
As was my custom, I made sure everyone had a partner, life jacket, paddle and canoe. Once they were all in the river, I would follow the group and make sure they were alright.
This particular year, another leader was my canoeing partner and we started last. We didn’t get very far until we came upon a couple of students who were new to canoeing. They had no clue what was going on and could not steer the canoe. It was a mix of paddling in circles, paddling upstream instead of downstream, and running into the bank of the river several times.
In the midst of the paddling chaos, the mood went from giggles and laughter, to frustration and even some fear of never making it. After some coaching and instructions, it became clear that their only hope was to switch partners.
Fortunately, the leader I was with was a strong paddler and so was I. We each took a student in the front of the canoes and began paddling the remaining 6.5 miles. I did want to teach the student how to canoe, but I didn’t need them to paddle. I promised the student I would get them safely home and they could help if they would do what I said.
In reality, every time they put their paddle in the water, they were fighting me and making things more difficult at times. But I patiently instructed them and helped them learn the proper way, so at times they were in cooperation with me. Other times, I told them to just take a break and enjoy the ride, “I got you!”
In many ways, this story reminds me of our spiritual reality. We were created in God’s Image and capable of creating and reflecting God in many ways. Yet sin came in and brought confusion and disruption to our understanding of ourselves and our capabilities.
Essentially we are the students who, having no prior experience, think we can live life on our own. Yet we keep spinning in circles, going the wrong way and bumping into everything. We might enjoy it at first, laugh at ourselves for a while, but soon frustration and fears take over.
The Good News is that Jesus came along and invites us into His canoe. He tells us, “I got you!” He patiently tells us the ways to cooperate with Him and paddle in concert with Him, but we mess up over and over again. Yet, He never gives up on us and promises to bring us safely home.
What we don’t realize, is that He is slowly and steadily helping us become more like Him. He is restoring the Image of God in us to its fullness, where we can reflect His glory more and more.
Romans 8:29
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Here we read that God has a plan and purpose for His people, to conform them to the image of Jesus. Whose doing the work here? God is! Your transformation is not up to you, it’s God’s work! He bears the responsibility and He will continue this work (Phil 1:6).
Now, this doesn’t mean we should always sit back and let Him paddle in life. We should learn to orchestrate our paddling in concert with Him. This is called obedience. We don’t work for our salvation, we work from our salvation. As we increasingly improve slowly, we will receive the joy of experiencing God work in and through us.
Jesus takes great joy in restoring His image in you!
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