It was a beautiful summer day, and Mark was looking forward to a white-water rafting trip with many of his friends. They were driving to a place near Maupin, Oregon, where the Deschutes River flows through central Oregon. Here, the desert’s melting summer heat finds relief in the ice-cold water of the river, which comes from snow melting on the beautiful nearby Mt. Hood.
Six rafts set off for the all-day float trip, with Mark and two friends and some passengers in one of them. By late afternoon, the five other rafts safely docked in Maupin, done with rafting for the day. Mark and his friends left their passengers in Maupin, but decided to continue on another couple of hours down the river to a different stopping point to get off the river.
It had been a relaxing day as the three young men looked forward to the end of their trip. The current was strong, but Mark and his friends were strong, too, as their paddles dug in to maneuver the raft through the last set of rapids before docking. All of them could swim and they had their life vests on, but at this point, there was a need to get off the river, as they would soon be helpless in spite of life vests and strong muscles against the mighty current rushing to a dangerous waterfall.
Finally, they rounded the last bend before the final docking place, and they could see other rafts docked in a row on the left bank. Mark and his friends knew that just ahead, another 200 yards beyond the docking place, was a deceptively-short falls named Sherars Falls. The river was very full and flowing fast, and the bottom of the falls boiled with deep and dangerous whitewater. There were signs warning of the danger of going over the falls. It was time to get off the river now!
In order to dock the raft, they had to fit in diagonally. Not wanting to bump into other rafts while docking, they went past the other rafts, looking for a wider opening to dock at.
Suddenly they heard yelling and screaming from the shore where other rafters had already docked. With fear, they realized that they were now dangerously close to the falls, and were even now picking up speed from the current which was pushing them faster than they could control the raft. Both of Mark’s friends jumped out of the raft into the river to try to swim to shore, but Mark decided to stay with
the raft.
As he balanced in the raft, someone on shore threw a throw bag toward the boat. (This is a bag with a rope inside that comes out as it flies through the air, while the person throwing it holds onto his end.) Thankfully, the rope fell across the front of the raft. Mark lunged for it and then fought to be sure his two friends, who were struggling in the water, could also grab it and hang on. With many people on shore working to pull them to safety, the three young men hung onto the rope and got it tied to the raft, as the current fought to pull them downstream.
One by one, the three young men reached the shore and collapsed. As Mark stumbled onto the bank, he found that his knees were weak as rubber as he realized how close he had come to going over Sherars Falls. They never thought it would feel so wonderful to sit on the bank! But they were safe — at last — thanks to somebody having a throw bag with a lifeline and enough people to win the war against the pull of the strong current swirling over the falls.
What would you think of Mark and his friends if they had just ignored the yelling and wished the people would be quiet and let them enjoy their peaceful day? And ... what about you? Perhaps you have been warned many times of the terrible end that is ahead for every person on this earth who doesn’t believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, the end of going to hell. Have you listened to those warnings or do you just keep going on, trying to enjoy your life? The Bible says, “Behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). It warns us that we need to listen today. “Today if [you] will hear His voice, harden not your hearts” (Hebrews 3:1515While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (Hebrews 3:15)). Don’t put off until tomorrow being saved from “the wrath to come” (Matthew 3:77But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Matthew 3:7)), because tomorrow may be too late. “Escape for [your] life” (Genesis 19:1717And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. (Genesis 19:17)). You need to use all the urgency Mark and his friends used to be sure you are safe for eternity!
There is nothing you can do, but just believe in what God has done for you in His Son. Just as Mark and his friends were helpless against the strong river current, so we are helpless to save ourselves from the wrath of God against sin. But God in His great love to us has given us a Savior, His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus has done all the work that was needed to save sinners, and now all you have to do, if you know you are a sinner, is to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and [you will] be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). I hope you will do that today!
Messages of God’s Love 2/12/2023