The birthday party was over. There had been all the usual fun and games, presents and refreshments, even swimming in the backyard pool. Now most of the children and their mothers had gone home, but two little cousins slipped back out to the swimming pool to look at that shining water.
Triston, three years old, was standing near the deep end when he bent over to pick up a ball. Splash! Triston fell into the water.
Six-year-old Dale didn’t hesitate. There was another big splash as he jumped into the pool and pulled his choking, coughing little cousin to the surface. Swimming to the edge of the pool, he helped little Triston out.
Wasn’t Dale a hero? He doesn’t think so! Heroism was the very last of his motives for rescuing his little cousin. His first thought was, “He’s my cousin, and I love him!” Doesn’t that bring to mind the “Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20))?
And there was another reason: “I knew Debbie [Triston’s mother] would be sad” if he drowned. This we seldom think of, but it is true that the One most grieved over one lost soul is God Himself. We read that He “is long-suffering...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:99The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)). Little do we realize how deeply He has cared and how grieved He has been. We still go “every one to his own way,” in spite of the cry that rings down the centuries: “Turn ye, turn ye... for why will ye die?”
We stand on the very brink of destruction and reach out for a plaything, a toy, anything that our hearts are set on-and tumble right on into the water. We never intended to lose life and love and hope so quickly. But without the Savior there will be no hope for all eternity. Now, right now, is the time to make sure of salvation; there may never be another opportunity!
“THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE”! And choose it now!