strike that match

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I heard an old song online (klove.com) last week. I hadn’t thought about it for a long time.

The song begins with a story from long, long ago. In 1519, Cortez landed in Mexico on the shores of the Yucatan. By giving them no option to give up and go home, Cortez forced his men to focus on being successful in their mission.

I remember that Cortez was an explorer. Other than that, I was clueless about his trip back in 1519. I googled Cortez and skimmed thru several historical references. I looked up the lyrics of “Burn the Ships”, sung by Steven Curtis Chapman, and remembered why I had listened and listened to this song.

This song is a story about commitment. It’s a story about endurance. It’s a story about obedience. It’s a story about motivation. It’s a story about faithfulness. Did Cortez know the exploration of 1519 would be such a story? I wonder...

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 NAS

let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1 NAS

As a Christian, I am called to have nothing less than total commitment. Total commitment to finish the race. That’s total commitment. And, endurance. Endurance strong enough to cross the finish line. And, obedience. Obedience to the commands and instructions of God. Motivation. Motivation by the love of God and to serve God in all I do. And, faithfulness. Faithfulness to the Christian life, the foundation of God’s love.

When I became a Christian, there were many ships to burn. The first ship was my life before accepting Jesus. The first ship was the biggest, but it was surrounded by many, many sin ships. I still see ships that need to be burned. Ships that can hold me back from the will of God. Ships that can change direction and take me where I shouldn’t go. There are many ships wanting to take me off course. There are too many ships.

Burn, burn, burn, and don’t look back...

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Burn the Ships
Steven Curtis Chapman

In the spring of 1519 a Spanish fleet set sail
Cortez told his sailors this mission must not fail
On the eastern shore of Mexico they landed with great dreams
But the hardships of the new world make them restless and weak
Quietly they whispered, "Let's sail back to the life we knew"
But the one who led them there was saying

Chorus
Burn the ships, we're here to stay
There's no way we could go back
Now that we've come this far by faith
Burn the ships, we've passed the point of no return
Our life is here
So let the ships burn

In the spring of new beginnings a searching heart set sail
Looking for a new life and a love that would not fail
On the shores of grace and mercy we landed with great joy
But an enemy was waiting to steal, kill, and destroy
Quietly he whispers, "Go back to the life you know"
But the one who led us here is saying

Nobody said it would be easy
But the one who brought us here
Is never gonna leave us alone