Of Fishermen and Fishers of Men

I met him years ago through his grandfather. His grandfather, Rick, a customer of mine, was a fleet manager for a national waste company. Rick hoped his grandson could get a job with our company after finishing the diesel tech program at our local community college. Sure enough, he did end up working for us for a bit. We got to know each other a little, but mostly were just acquaintances. Later, he went to work for another company, and we lost touch for a while. He reached out once or twice after to check in, get advice, and potentially apply for some open positions he saw posted. Somewhere along the way, we started talking fishing as we are both avid fishermen. It led to several fishing trips chasing big reds in the Pamlico Sound, Sheepshead, and trout in the backwaters of the sound. 

A few months ago, RD had an experience on the water that would change his life. For years, he has spent all-nighters on the weekends doing catfishing tournaments with his fishing partner. This particular night, he had a mishap and fell headlong into the river. He got rolled under some timber, but thankfully popped up above the surface, where his buddy grabbed hold of him and held on to him for dear life. He can't swim, the water was swift, and it took almost thirty minutes to get both him and the boat to shallow water. It was a life-threatening situation, and at several points throughout the ordeal he thought his life was over. but his buddy never gave up on him. He had bruises on his arm where his friend held on to him so tightly. He saved RD's life that night in more than one way. 

A few months later, God started doing some crazy things in RD's life. He started attending church for the first time in his adult life. Providentially, an older friend of mine with who I had attended church for years, was going to the church he showed up at. He welcomed him with open arms and started encouraging him and building a relationship with him. A few weeks later, in talking with RD on the phone about what the Lord was doing in his life, I asked him directly if he had ever asked Jesus to be Lord of his life and accepted Christ as his Savior. He told me he made a profession of faith at a youth camp in high school, was baptized, but never really started walking with the Lord after that. But he was committed now to following Jesus. The conversation turned to baptism. He understood it doesn't save you, but he wanted the world to know he was a changed man. I told him if he wanted to recommit his life to Christ by being baptized again, I would baptize him. On April 6th of this year, I did just that...pics below.

It's not uncommon for people to be forced to evaluate their spiritual disposition after coming face-to-face with their mortality. Seeds were planted in RD's life years ago. They just took a while to blossom. Having never taken the time to look at himself in the mirror of God's word previously. God forced him to look at himself in a river, and he didn't like what he saw. And while RD was pursuing fish, Jesus was pursuing the fisherman. And see that's my favorite part of this story...

Over 2000 years ago, Jesus stepped into the lives of a few fishermen on the shores of Galilee. Their lives would never be the same after. Neither would the world. Jesus gave these ordinary fishermen a new calling and a new purpose. He even gave one a new name. Three years later, they were so radically changed that they astounded the religious elite. In Acts 4:13, it was noted that there was only one explanation: they had been with Jesus. And my favorite part of this whole story with RD is that once again, Jesus has stepped into the life of another fisherman. Recreational, not occupational, but the call was the same, "Follow Me." And he did.