The blue waters of the bay glistened in the sunshine. Laughter and the hum of a motorboat could be heard as six young people took turns water-skiing around the cove. As he steered the boat, Paul looked to the western sky and saw that it promised to be a beautiful sunset. What better way to enjoy it than to water-ski beneath the flaming colors!
Noticing the gas gauge, however, Paul realized they didn’t have enough gas to last for the rest of the evening.
“No problem,” said his cousin Bill. “We’ll just drive around the point to get more gas.” The two girls who had been skiing agreed, and they climbed into the boat, leaving their skis and life jackets on the beach.
“We won’t need the life jackets,” reasoned Gail. “We’ve got a few floats in the boat.” They roared off, out past the breakers ... six young people and not a single life jacket on board.
After refueling the boat, they had not gone far when Paul noticed the tide had changed and the water had suddenly grown quite rough. He decided to go a mile farther out to bypass the waves, but as he turned around again a large wave broke over the boat, filling it in one terrifying second. Quickly, Paul gave orders, knowing that some were good swimmers and some were not.
“Gail, Julie and Mark, you swim in with me. I think we can make it to shore if we take two floats and stay close together. Bill and Larry, maybe you had better stay by the boat. We’ll get a rescue squad out as fast as we can. Stay with the boat, guys!”
Determined, the four set out for the long swim back to shore.
Two hours later with every muscle aching, they reached shore. On the beach, Paul’s mother was anxiously scanning the water for them. A rescue squad had been called and was just going to look for them. By this time the sun had nearly disappeared and it was getting dark. The water was rougher than ever, and the four young people with the rest of Paul’s family stood quietly and anxiously on the point.
One man returned in his large boat. “I couldn’t find any boat,” he reported sadly. “I’m afraid it must have sunk.”
Paul’s heart sank as he remembered his last words to Bill and Larry: “Stay with the boat, guys.” The only float left must have been carried out of their reach by the strong tide.
Darkness settled over the point. Car headlights shone out into the dark water, lighting the way back to shore. Family and friends drew close in a circle and prayed earnestly. The beautiful day now seemed like a cruel memory. As it grew darker, they continued to pray.
Faintly, they heard some splashing ... it was only the waves ... or was it? Tears of joy welled up in Julie’s eyes as she clearly heard two weak voices out in the darkness! Bill and Larry had seen the light from the cars and had followed the light to safety, in spite of being exhausted from their long swim.
It was careless of the young people not to have their life jackets that day, wasn’t it? It could have cost some of them their lives. Thankfully there was light that shone out in the darkness to show the way to the shore and safety. There is still light for any who are in worse danger ... the danger of dying without their sins being forgiven. The Lord Jesus is the only way to be safe for eternity. This is the light in the darkness, for Jesus is the light of the world. We are told that “through this Man [Jesus] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 13:3838Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (Acts 13:38)). On the cross, He took the punishment for the sins of every person who would believe on Him as their Savior. Today He lives in heaven, because He rose from the dead. Now He is waiting for you to believe the wonderful truth that you can have your sins forgiven because of what He did on the cross. I hope you will be sure that you are safe for eternity, right now!
Messages of God’s Love 8/11/2024