Tim and his classmates were very excited. Their fifth-grade class was going on a special two-day field trip that several of the teachers had been planning for quite some time. It was going to be a big event! Arrangements were made for the students and their teachers, along with parent helpers, to stay one night at a hotel with an extra-large swimming pool.
The pool didn’t have a regular lifeguard on duty, so Tim’s dad volunteered to watch the children in the swimming pool. He was a very good swimmer and had learned lifeguarding skills as a teenager. Before being allowed to go to the deep end of the pool, each child was asked, “Can you swim?” Those who said “yes” had to show that they could, by swimming across the shallow end of the pool. If they passed the test, they could go anywhere in the pool. Some of the children were able to go into the deep water, while others were told to stay in the shallow part.
Jimmy didn’t pass the swimming test, so he was told to stay in the shallow end of the pool. He really didn’t mind, because he just loved being in the water. But after a while, he thought the boys in the deep end were having more fun than he was. They were jumping off the edge of the pool and playing with a ball. He decided to go play with them.
Have you boys and girls been taught to obey your parents and teachers or any grown-up who tells you not to do something? There’s a verse in the Bible that says, “Children, obey your parents [or teacher or other grown-up] in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:2020Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. (Colossians 3:20)). God has given these older people wisdom to know what is safe and best for you and what is isn’t. Do you always obey them? Even when you really don’t want to? Disobeying is a sin, and your sins will keep you out of heaven.
The happy group of children down at the deep end of the pool was making lots of noise as they splashed and played. No one noticed Jimmy when he jumped into the deep water and went after the ball. The problem was, Jimmy couldn’t swim! He struggled to keep his head above the water when his feet didn’t touch the bottom of the pool. He went down under and gulped a lot of water. He came back to the top and thrashed his arms around, but then he went down under the water again. Jimmy was going to drown!
Suddenly Tim’s dad saw what was happening and quickly dove into the water and grabbed Jimmy in his strong arms. He carried him out of the pool and set him down on the floor until he was okay. Then he asked Jimmy, “Why did you go into the deep water when you can’t swim?” Jimmy answered, “But I can almost swim!”
Almost is not enough. Many people have lost their lives from almost being able to do something. Maybe you think you are almost good enough to get to heaven. There is no such thing as being almost saved from your sins. Your sins will keep you out of heaven unless the blood of Jesus has washed away your sins. A verse in the Bible says, “The blood of Jesus Christ [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). Jimmy thought he could almost swim, but he would have drowned if those strong arms had not saved him. The Lord Jesus Christ loves you and wants very much to be your Saviour. His strong arms want to rescue you from the punishment you deserve for your sins. Will you talk to Him in prayer, tell Him you are sorry for your sins and let Him wash them away? Will you accept Him into your heart right now and know for sure that your sins are gone forever?
ML-11/03/2013