The summer camping season on the Olympic Peninsula begins on Memorial Day weekend. Thousands of eager campers brave the long ferryboat lines and drive for hours to enjoy the area’s scenic beauty. One of the most popular camping destinations is Kalaloch Beach on the Pacific Ocean. Its hundreds of campsites are scattered along lanes in the forest above the beach. A short hike from the campsites to a flight of steps brings campers to one of the most beautiful, expansive beaches along the Pacific Coast. A sign at the top of the steps warns beach-goers of two of the dangers of the beach. It would be wise for hikers to pay attention to the warnings, because it seems that every year there is a serious accident. The sign first warns swimmers about the giant pieces of driftwood that are tossed about like little playthings by the incoming waves and smash anything that gets in their way. The second warning on the sign informs people using the beach about the dangerous riptides that sometimes lurk beneath the surface of the water.
A riptide is a strong, narrow tide that opposes other currents and produces turbulence, especially as water rushes back seaward after incoming waves mount up on the shore. These riptides are especially strong on days when the tides are extreme. The Papkov family planned to spend three days enjoying the campground and the beautiful beach. On the last day of the camping trip, tragedy struck the family. The two children in the family were walking in the edge of the surf along the beach. They had already spent two days wading in and out of the water, but they were unaware that conditions had changed and a swift riptide was flowing. As they walked along, a large wave crashed into them, knocking them down. Before they could recover, the riptide sucked them out into deeper water. The bottom is uneven at this part of the beach, and they found themselves in over their heads. The girl was able to struggle back to shore, but the boy completely disappeared in the unforgiving ocean. Park authorities made a lengthy search, but the boy had to be presumed drowned. Despite the warning sign on the beach, the riptides at Kalaloch had claimed another young life.
There is a riptide in the affairs of the lives of men in this world too. It is as if the great mass of people in the world is like the sea, and sometimes they are pulled this way and then that way (much like the tides) by prevailing attitudes. Salvation from sin by a Savior who died and rose again isn’t popular in today’s world. It seems as though a riptide is running and carrying men, women and children away from finding safety in the One who died at Calvary. Like the boy in the story, they are being carried away from safety and swept out to destruction. Safety is only found in the Lord Jesus. He was taken by cruel hands and crucified; a soldier stuck a spear deep into His side. He was buried in a tomb hewn out of rock. Roman soldiers rolled a rock over the tomb to close it and then sealed it and set a guard of soldiers to make sure no one would tamper with it. For the rest of that day (the preparation day for the Sabbath), all of the Sabbath, and then the early part of the “first day of the week” His body lay in the grave. Then early on that “first day of the week” He arose from the grave in resurrection. The rock was rolled aside and angels sat where His body had been laid. He appeared to His disciples many times over the next forty days. Once, there is even a record of Him eating fish and honeycomb with them. The resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the grave is the proof that He is the Son of God. As it says in Romans, “Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
Make no mistake about it. It was God who created the world, and God who intervened to perform miracles, and it was God who raised up the Lord Jesus. It is also God who calls all men to repentance and faith in His Son so that they might receive the gift of eternal life. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God” (John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)). What you do with the Lord Jesus will determine where you will spend eternity. “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)).
Will you confess Him as your Lord and Savior, so that you receive the gift of eternal life? Or will you reject the message and come into condemnation? You alone must decide. And you alone must bear the consequences of your decision. There is a real hell waiting for those who reject the Lord Jesus-there is heaven and eternal life for all those who truly believe He is the Son of God and who accept His salvation. That the riptides of unbelief are running through this world shouldn’t surprise anyone. This is the same world that refused and crucified the Lord Jesus after He had done incredible works of power and love! It is our prayer that you escape the dangerous riptides of unbelief and find joy and safety in trusting in the risen Christ as Lord and Savior.