“Grandpa,” said two boys, George and Raymond. “We found the old fishing hole in your stories.”

“Ya did now, did ya?” said their elder.

“Yep, it was at the edge of town where they built that motel and factory. The old farm ain't there no more like it was when you were our age,” they said.

Summer came. The two boys decided to see who could catch the most fish at the new fishing hole. Then they went there day after day all summer trying to catch a fish. They used every kind of live bait they could dig up or buy at the store. No luck. Then they tried every kind of manmade lure. No luck. They moved around the pond looking for the “lucky spot.” No luck. “We are just about the worse fishermen alive,” sighed George.

Just when they decided they had to leave, grandpa suddenly appeared to ask them what they were trying to do. “We were just trying to fish in your old fishing hole,” George said. “But we didn't catch noth'n,” whined Raymond.

Grandpa rubbed his chin and smiled. “Well, boys,” he said gently. “You didn't catch anything because it's not a fishing hole anymore. It's a lagoon. See those pipes coming into it? There's nothing good in this pool now. No, it's filled with every unclean and filthy thing–sewage, snakes, frogs and bugs.”

Unfortunately, some communities are like lagoons. They have had sin piped into them for so long that they are like pools filled with every unclean and filthy thing. There's not much good in them. No bait, lure or technique will bring out anything more than sewage, snakes, frogs and bugs. It is a sad and embarrassing day when those who love Jesus realize that they have been fishing in a lagoon.

What can we do when we find ourselves “fishing in a lagoon”? I can think of three options:

First, we could make no change at all. Just ignore the fact that you're fishing in a lagoon. However, to do so is not only non-productive, it is demoralizing. It is a waste of our time. Who could fish like that for very long?

Second, we could move to a better fishing hole. Many leave a dead pond to find one that is filled with fish. Who could blame them? After all, when they go to a pond they want to bring home something good, right?

Third, we could roll up our sleeves and reclaim the pond. Lagoons can be purified and restocked. Sure, it takes a lot of hard work, time and money; but, a good, clean stock pond is a valuable asset. Ask Jesus! He promised, “Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). Pull the pipes of filth. Open the healthy springs of life. Restock the pond with life. Quit fishing in a lagoon!