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00:00Have you ever wanted something so bad that you're willing to endure intense suffering to obtain it?
00:08Willing to sacrifice comforts and go through hardships just to acquire it?
00:12Something that was so attractive to you that you've been willing to do almost anything just to see it?
00:18Well, there's an earthly place that's kind of like that for me.
00:21285 miles off the coast of Mexico lies a group of four volcanic islands that shoot up from the Great Pacific Ocean.
00:34Discovered in 1533 by Spanish explorers, the Riviera Hijiro Islands have been a top destination for many more explorers since then.
00:42It is home to a handful of naval officers who look after the Mexican naval base on the island of Socorro.
00:51It is also the center of the largest marine protected area in North America.
01:00A 57,000 square mile marine sanctuary.
01:03A place of refuge for the creatures of the sea where no fishing, mining or tourist development is allowed.
01:09It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is called by some as Mexico's little Hawaii.
01:15Now it doesn't have the beautiful beaches like we have back at home.
01:18But it does boast some of the most spectacular pelagic diving in the world.
01:22Lava tubes rising like chimneys from the sea floor provide the perfect backdrop for a plethora of pelagic species to congregate in peace.
01:31There are schools of hammerhead sharks seeking rest by drifting in the ripping currents.
01:36Strong but yet peaceful predators that are unbothered by our presence.
01:40You can hear humpback whales sing their love song while they nurse their calves in the calm and clear waters.
01:46The friendly bottlenose dolphins are intrigued by scuba divers and consistently draw close for a playful look.
01:53The intelligence in their eyes and their playful personalities testify to the wisdom and joy of their maker.
01:59But the main attraction of this incredible place are the gigantic oceanic manta rays.
02:06With wingspans of up to 20 feet wide, these gentle giants seem to soar through the ocean with grace and majesty.
02:13Their behavior is almost inexplicable.
02:16Instead of fleeing from us, they constantly draw near, seeking for a relaxing massage in our bubbles.
02:22The eye-to-eye encounters with these graceful creatures are a glimpse of heaven for me.
02:32To be in the presence of something so large and yet so graceful and peaceful is awe-inspiring to say the least.
02:39Words kind of describe the feelings of exploring the water world of the beautiful creatures of Sokora.
02:45And yet surprisingly, there are only a relative few who are able to experience the splendor of this place.
02:57Why not more?
02:58Well, because Sokoro is a very hard place to get to.
03:01Unless you're one of the few Mexican naval officers, the only way to get to these islands is by boat.
03:07And there's only a relative few boats that bring only advanced scuba divers, only a handful at a time.
03:17And due to the rough seas, there are just a handful of months out of the year where the waters are relatively calm enough to set sail.
03:24And once you do, it's a 24-hour boat ride to this isolated place.
03:29Because of the long journey, there are no day trips.
03:32One week is the minimal amount of time you must be willing to stay on the boat to experience the splendor of Sokoro.
03:46Now for some people, this may be an easy voyage to make.
03:49But I, on the other hand, suffer from a terrible disadvantage.
03:52Despite my love for the ocean, I'm constantly plagued with seasickness.
03:56It is a curse.
03:58For me, there are few things worse than being seasick on a boat where there's no place to escape for relief.
04:04But despite this, I'm still willing to endure the 24-hour boat ride and seven-day journey to experience the beauty and power of this place.
04:13Being able to swim with the friendly dolphins, the powerful sharks, the singing whales, and the majestic mantas make it more than worth it to me.
04:26Our journey to Sokoro reminds me of another journey that is also hard, but the destination is worth every step.
04:37It is the journey from earth to heaven.
04:39The Bible says that it is only through much tribulation that we will enter into the kingdom of God.
04:44It tells us that the afflictions of this world are what God uses to prepare us for the eternal weight of glory to come.
04:51And Jesus said that only those who endure to the end will be saved.
04:56In order to make it to the heavenly Sokoro, we must be willing to sacrifice earthly comforts and endure the seasickness of trial and hardship.
05:05But when we get to the shores of heaven, it will be worth it all.
05:09The name Sokoro comes from the Old English word Sokor, which literally means to aid and support in times of hardship and distress.
05:18These isolated islands have truly been that for me, a place of relief from my seasickness.
05:25And in a similar way, there is another place where we can find relief from the seasickness of sin.
05:31And that, my friends, is at the foot of the cross of Christ.
05:35It is said concerning Jesus, for in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to succor, to aid, to help, to bring relief to those who are also tempted.
05:46You see, Jesus knows what it's like to experience the temptations that we face.
05:51In fact, He has already faced the pain and endured the hardships that we have yet to encounter.
05:57For His desire to be with us was so strong that He left the comforts of heaven and He set sail to the rugged shores of our sinful world.
06:05His yearning for eternal fellowship with us was so great that He made the ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross.
06:11He took our sin and our seasickness in order to give us His soothing salvation.
06:16And He endured to the end when He said, It is finished.
06:20And having been through all of that, He was now able to succor us on our way to the heavenly succor.
06:26All we must do is look to Him from grace and strength.
06:30So remember that even though the journey will be difficult and the sacrifices will be great, the destination will be worth it all.
06:37Far better than the dolphins, the sharks, the whales, and the mantas.
06:41To be with the maker of them all in the unspoiled paradise of God, nothing can compare.
06:46And by God's succoring grace, I'll see you there.
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08:33Transcription by CastingWords