I was recently at a business
training to learn more about real estate. Instead of the training being focused
on logical and practical operations it was more of a sermon. The guest speaker spoke about how we give
ourselves the option to fail by the way we emotionally express ourselves on a
daily bases. He said “We just give up
too easily sometimes.” I agree with him
on that point. Then he went on about
explaining the words we declare sometimes. He stated, “We worry ourselves and
even curse ourselves, then wonder why we receive the results that we get.” I couldn’t argue that for one second. As he
went on about his lesson he used metaphoric “ships that we have in our lives.” These ships represent; doubt, the familiar,
the place of comfort, and simply things that we go back to when times get
rough.
I remember reading the story of Peter when he
was on the boat. At the time, Peter and a few of his disciples were off shore,
there were waves and wind thrusting against his boat. They then saw a man
walking on water and were terrified because they thought it was a ghost, little
did they know it was Jesus. Jesus spoke
to them saying they should have courage and not to be afraid for it was Him
walking on water not a ghost. Peter then told Jesus “Lord, if it’s you, tell me
to come to you on the water.” Jesus said “come.” Peter then walked on to the water
to go towards Jesus. But when saw the wind he was afraid and began to sink in
the water. He cried out “LORD, SAVE ME!” Jesus immediately reached out to his
hand and caught him. He said, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Now picture yourself in Peter’s
shoes, taking your first step on the surface of the water because you’re trying
to go towards Jesus. Imagine your self walking on water but feeling the strong
winds push against you and seeing waves come to you. Would you be scared? Would
you look back at the boat to see how far you were from it? Would you have any
doubt? I personally would be frightened;
I would probably look around in panic to see where the boat was. This is what
we do spiritually when we hear our calling but lose our concentration on the
Lord. We look for something to save us,
when we have the best life preserver with us all along.
The Instructor then went on about
relating the story of Peter to the story of Hernan Cortes the Spanish
Conquistador. Cortes had planned to attack the Mexican Azteca’s with a strategic
plan because the Spaniards wanted to conquer Mexico and raid the land for their
famous precious treasure that they possessed. The Spaniards were not only seriously
outnumbered but they had to be willing to die for their Queen and acknowledge
that many would die due to the odds. Nevertheless, Cortes motivated the troops
by exposing that they would forever be remembered and spoke about in history. Upon
the battle, Mr. Cortes gave one of the best battle cries ever recorded. He
shouted "BURN THE SHIPS"! This
was the point of no return. The army was stunned and excited to push forward by
these words when in fact, they had no other option. They simply had to give it
their all and die for what they believed in.
That is the point in our faith and
in our industry. It is not Ludacris to
be a Broker, Loan Officer, or Realtor in this industry, nor in our faith. Being faithful in our lives and industry isn’t
absurd, it’s courageous. Let us be brave
for “yet in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor
any other created things, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which
is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).
I was so pumped up and refreshed after the training; it was personally much
need it. Sit back, analyze, and ask yourself “Am I ready to become a conqueror?”
YES YOU ARE!!!
I really hope that this story helps it did it for me.
