Ann was a lifeguard. She knew how to save people’s lives, but this story tells about how God saved her.
Ann believed in God. She never doubted that He was there — somewhere. But she didn’t know Him. Sometimes she read the Bible, but when she came to a part she didn’t understand, she lost interest and quit reading. She felt empty, but she had no idea why. When she told her friends how she felt, they would look at her like she was a bit strange. They didn’t seem to care that they didn’t know God. Ann didn’t know it then, but God says, “I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me” (Proverbs 8:1717I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (Proverbs 8:17)). She couldn’t say she loved God, because she didn’t know Him, but in her own way she was seeking Him. God knew that and guided her to find Him.
Ann had a picture on her bedroom wall that was supposed to be Jesus when He was a boy. She was proud of that picture. It made her feel religious. But one day as she studied the picture she thought, This is a picture of God’s Son and I don’t even know Him! So she prayed: God, please help me to get to know Your Son.
That summer Ann worked as a lifeguard at the swimming pool. One day a friendly lady brought her children to swim. She began to talk with Ann when she was off duty, and she seemed interested in her. Ann began to tell her how frustrated she felt because she hadn’t been able to get to know God or His Son.
“Just a minute,” she said. “I’ll be right back.” She left, but soon came back with a New Testament. She showed Ann places to read in the Bible. Ann took the Bible home. The more she read, the more she liked it.
The next few days were wet and cold. The pool was open, but few people came to swim, so Ann had many quiet hours to read the Bible. By the time there was another sunny day, she had read most of the way through the New Testament.
When the weather turned warm again, the lady who had given Ann the New Testament came to the pool with her children. She and Ann talked about Jesus, God’s Son. A few days later she invited Ann to go with her to hear preaching about the Lord Jesus. As she listened, God opened Ann’s understanding. She saw that Jesus had died for her. He had made Himself responsible for her sins. She was free! Forgiven! Because He had risen from the dead, Ann would rise too! She bubbled over with happiness. God had answered her prayer. Now Ann knew He loved her. She knew His Son, because He was now her Savior. She finally had the peace she had been
looking for.
What about you? Do you sometimes feel empty like Ann did? When the Lord Jesus walked on this earth, He met a thirsty woman one day. She was at a well to get water. But she had a much greater thirst in her heart ... an emptiness like Ann had. The Lord Jesus told her, “[Whoever drinks] of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:1414But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)). This lady had done some bad sins, but that didn’t stop the Lord Jesus from loving her and wanting her to have her inner thirst truly satisfied. She came to know Him as the One who knew her and loved her anyway, and that is just how He is for you, too. He knows all about us, and yet He came to die in order to be able to save us. I hope you will believe on Him to save you from your sins and that you find the true joy that is found only in the Lord Jesus.
Messages of God’s Love 1/19/25