THERE is a story told of a young man who was seeking after the knowledge of eternal life and peace with God.
The friend to whom he had confided his difficulties discerned very quickly that he was striving to obtain everlasting life by his own efforts. He spoke of “sincere prayers” and “heartfelt desires” after salvation, but continually lamented that he did not “feel any different in spite’ of it all.”
His friend did not answer him at first, but presently he interrupted him with the enquiry, did you ever learn to float?”
“Yes, I did!” was the surprised reply.
“And did you find it easy to learn?”
“Not at first!” he answered.
“What was the difficulty?” his friend pursued.
“Well, the fact was, I could not lie still; I could not believe or realize that the water could hold me up, without ‘any effort of my own, so I always began to struggle, and of course down I went at once.”
“And then?”
“Then I found out that I must give up all the struggle, and just rest on the strength of the water to bear me up. It was easy enough after that; I was able to lie back in the fullest confidence .that I should never sink.”‘
“And is not God’s word more worthy of your trust than the changeable sea? He does not bid you wait for feelings, He commands you just to rest in Him, to believe His word and accept His gift. His message of life reaches down to you in your place of ruin and death, and His word to you now is, ‘The gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.“ Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).
Messages of God’s Love 10/22/1905