It was a warm, beautiful day in August when four-year-old Ellie and her parents left for a day at the beach. After they got there, Elllie’s parents blew up the pink unicorn they had brought for her to float in, to let Ellie enjoy the water safely while her parents swam nearby. They also made sure her arm floaties were on just in case she fell off the large inflatable toy. Still, her mom and dad were keeping a close watch on her as well! No doubt they all felt happy and safe as they enjoyed the beautiful beach
and water!
But suddenly, before anyone realized what was happening, the wind started to blow the unicorn with Ellie on its back away from her parents. Little Ellie started drifting out to the open ocean! Her Dad swam after her with all his might. Other swimmers also tried to reach her, but the wind was just too strong. They watched helplessly as the small child, clinging to the unicorn’s neck, drifted with alarming speed away from them all and further out to sea. Ellie soon looked to those watching like a little speck on the vast ocean ... a tiny child without a life-jacket, riding an air-filled plastic unicorn, sailing out over the deep blue sea, all alone.
When the authorities were notified, they got in contact with the captain of a large ferry which was thought to be the closest to where little Ellie and her unicorn were drifting in the water. The captain’s name was Mr. Karnesis. He had already noticed a tiny object in the distance moving at a fast pace through the water and could hardly believe his eyes when he was able to identify it as a child on a floating toy out this far from shore! He immediately set to work, stilling the ferry’s front engine so that the churning water would not cause the little toy to float further away. The water became as still and calm as a pond. The next thing he did was to perform a tricky maneuver for such a large boat — one that can hold hundreds of cars and passengers —bringing his ferry close enough to Ellie so that she could be rescued. Mr. Karnesis had to lower the ramp that was used to load cars onto the ferry right down onto the surface of the water. Then one of the men who worked on the ferry grabbed little Ellie from the sea. Ellie had been in the water only around 20 minutes, but it probably seemed like a lot more than that to her and her parents!
Soon, Ellie was handed over into her happy and grateful parents’ arms. Children, you are probably thinking, “Wow! How scary that would be!” It’s hard to even imagine going through such an experience as a four-year-old!
This true story reminded me that even our parents, or anyone else who loves us, cannot be our Savior! Just like Ellie’s parents, who loved their little girl so much but could not save her from death, your parents or your grandparents or an aunt or uncle who dearly loves you cannot save you from your sins. Psalm 49 tells us that no matter how much money someone has, no one can redeem his brother (buy him back from Satan). We learn in another place in the Bible that we are only “redeemed ... with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-1918Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:18‑19)). The only One who can save you from hell is the Lord Jesus, for He is the One who died for you and shed His precious blood on the cross to put away your sins forever. He is the only Savior! Will you call out to Him today?
Memory Verse: “Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” Revelation 5:99And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9)
Messages of God’s Love 3/21/2021