To become a good skateboarder, you first must learn how to balance yourself on your skateboard. The grip tape will help you keep that balance. You have to do this until you achieve it. Your objective is not to give up until you have accomplished it. Then when you achieve that step you then learn how to push your skateboard and hop on and go, Right.

Now, the truth is that even when you do this process you still have to maintain a balance. Sometimes that balancing act going from a standstill to after pushing the skateboard is difficult at first. Think about it, if you’re just trying to balance on the skateboard from a stand still you don’t have to worry about the motions of getting on a skateboard that is moving.

So, now that you learned how to balance on the skateboard and got to a place where you can get on the skateboard after pushing it and still hold your balance, you still have obstacles to face that can cause you to get off or fall off of your skateboard. Take for a example a rock in your path that you might have missed. There will be other times like trying a new trick and you haven’t fully developed it yet. There are other ways you might get taken off your skateboard as you advance more in your skateboarding skills. The objective is to get back on that skateboard until you have learned to stay on that skateboard as long as you want too, even through your tricks until you’re ready to stop riding.

Now, these are facts as you learn to ride your skateboard. You will even hear it from anyone that will teach you how to skateboard especially, if you’re young and don’t have any wisdom or knowledge about skateboarding. Your Christian walk is the same way. You will see the same approach with those who are trying to help you get through the word of God. We can find that this can be very true from Matthew 7:24-29. “24) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26) And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28) And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29) For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Verse 24 - Tells us in a similar fashion, if you will take time out and get your basics of being able to stand and balance on your board you won’t fall down so easy. That same principle applies when you get into the word of God and surround yourself by those who know the word. Doing this helps you build the same kind of foundation in God’s word that you learn in skateboarding skills. What is this saying? It will help keep you from giving up too easily, because you have developed a firm foundation.

Verse 25 - Spotting a rock in front of you. This could have stopped you and tossed you off your skateboard.  This concept even works while your developing a new trick and still able to maintain balance on your skateboard. The very same thing happens in the word of God. No matter what comes at you, when you cling to the foundation of the truth of the God’s word, you won’t be shaken by it either. Why? Because you have established a foundation that will keep you going.

Verse 26 - Here comes the tough part. When you try to skip the basics or the foundation it can have the same effect like causing you to walk away from skateboarding or walking away from God’s word. How is this possible? First, for some of you, you’ll realize you can’t be successful right away and just put an end to it right then and there. Secondly, there are some who just get tired of trying to be successful right before the break-through is about to happen. Third, peer pressure of a specific area becomes so challenging it causes you to give up. There are more possible ways, but this gives us the concept. Every bit of this is trying to say, if you don’t develop a strong foundation whether it be in skateboarding or with the word of God you’re likely to step away from it all very easily.

Verse 27 - This is the saddest part of all. This is when you 100% give up and walk away. We all know what that feels like, so there is no need in talking about it any further than what is needed. What I want to do is say this to you. There are some who are gifted in an area such as skateboarding, but for some it comes harder than others. In other words, some may just be able to jump right into skateboarding and won’t take much to learn the tricks on a skateboard, but for many it will take time to develop everything you need to become that great skateboarder. Just don’t give up. Follow this with learning God’s word.
​
Verse 28-29 - When you get your own thoughts of how to be successful out of the way and begin to listen to someone who knows more you will be amazed just how successful you may become. You may become successful before you might even know it. God’s word works the same. The greatest thing is this: Jesus is the most successful person when it comes to the word of God. He is your grip tape when you are trying to learn about God. Follow him, because the authority of his word will work for you.

Sometimes we take up an activity such as skateboarding to fill up our emptiness. Most of the time that emptiness is a desire to have friends that we can fit in with, but there are times we still feel that empty void. We often feel like we’re cruising along the way, just like on a skateboard and still going nowhere, because that same void of emptiness hasn’t gone away. Well, you don’t have to cruise along by yourself anymore. There is one person who would like to cruise with you and take away that emptiness especially when you feel alone and his name is Jesus. Jesus is always     searching for the lost one. Yes, he still cares about the ninety-nine, but the ninety-nine already fits in, which is where you want to be. The truth of the matter is, are you willing to open up with him and allow Jesus to skateboard along side of you.

Let’s take a look at this truth from Luke 15:3-7 “3) And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4) What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5) And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6) And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7) I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” All of this is telling us Jesus knows we want friends and a place to fit in, but for some it is really hard to feel that acceptance. For others it maybe easy, but it isn’t always the right group to be with either. Why is that? Because, they are doing things that we’re just not comfortable with or they just can’t accept or respect us for who we are. Yes, of course, this makes it hard to be accepted by some, but ask yourself this question? Are they going to be a real friend or just someone you can say hi to from time to time. One thing is for certain Jesus wants to be our real friend all the time.

Jesus does care about you and wants you to be set free from that emptiness. Let’s look at Luke 4:18-19 “18) The  Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” This verse tells us two things that you need to understand and is important for you; one - Jesus totally cares about you and not only wants to remove your emptiness, but wants to set you free from any other problems you maybe encountering; two - he’s ready to visit you anytime and anywhere, because Jesus is ready 24 hrs a day 7 days a week. Let’s add this in as well. It also means Jesus wants you to always have a blessed life no matter the circumstances surrounding you, because his word works 24 hrs a day 7 days a week as well. Let’s support this with Deuteronomy 31:8 “And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” All we have to do is not leave him out, just like you don’t forget to get your skateboard when you’re ready to go skateboarding.

When you go back and read Luke 15:6-7 it also tells us that we can fit in somewhere. The greatest thing about finally fitting in is rejoicing takes place. Yes, that means some emptiness has been removed. Let me express this again. You just got freed from some of that emptiness.

Now, for some, the question still remains, does Jesus really want to cruise along with me? The answer is YES and will always be YES. Remember when I asked are you willing to open up with him and allow Jesus to skateboard along side of you?  Well, here is the truth, its found in Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” The word “sup” is the most important word to understand. Why? You can let him in, but, if you don’t communicate with him it’ll be hard for him to communicate back with you. This communication has to be open so he can fulfill what we have discussed already. Think of it this way. You want to do tricks with your skateboard, but if you don’t let your brain communicate to your board what you want your board to do, your board won’t respond to what you’re  trying to accomplish. Here’s a little hint. When you learn a new trick it takes time, but for some it just comes naturally. This process can work the same when you are trying to communicate with the Lord. The objective is you have to work the trick. It’s no different then making good communication with the Lord. Make it your objective until it becomes natural to communicate with him. Just like the new trick.

​Let’s continue to make this clear that Jesus really cares about you and it’s really, really important  to open up that communication with him. Let’s look at 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Notice this verse is all about communication. This process is just like asking someone to teach you how to do the ollie so that you can do more things with the skateboard and most of all to continue skateboarding without limited stops. This same approach is what you need to do to be set free from things in life that hold you back and that’s why “Jesus is looking for you”; because Jesus wants to cruise with you. Just open up to him, so he can set you free from your emptiness and any other concerns you may have in your life.