One fall morning, Alan and Bill planned a short trip, which included a hike to a waterfall followed by a swim at the Warm Springs Indian Reservation pool. Alan enjoyed seeing how far he could swim underwater in one breath of air. In this pool he had the chance to swim underwater a full two hundred feet without having to turn around.
It happened to be a weekday when there was no lifeguard on duty, so Alan decided to have Bill watch him in case of any difficulty. Alan was young and strong, and he was pretty sure he could make it to the end of the pool in one breath. He dove in and then swam hard. But then he did something very foolish. His pride urged him to keep on swimming, while his body was telling him to get more air.
Alan didn’t listen to what his body was telling him. Instead, he kept swimming even though his body was out of oxygen. Fifteen feet from the end of the pool he became unconscious and sank to the bottom of the pool!
Now in this condition, we can truly say Alan needed a saviour—someone who was strong enough to pull him out of the water and rescue him. Alan’s condition of being totally helpless is just like you and me in the sight of God. We all have offended God by having sinned in His sight. Yet at the same time, God loves us even though we are sinners, and He loves us with a very great love. Like Alan, we are helpless to save ourselves from the judgment we deserve for our sins.
Bill saw Alan down at the bottom of the pool and not moving. He jumped into the pool to rescue his friend before he drowned. But since Bill was smaller than Alan, he was not strong enough to lift Alan out of the pool. Thankfully, Bill called for help, and a strong man heard the call and came and lifted Alan out of the pool. That strong man saved Alan’s life.
Many sinners turn to religious leaders, thinking that these people can forgive their sins. But we read in the Bible, God’s Word, “Who can forgive sins but God only?” (Mark 2:77Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? (Mark 2:7)). God sent His beloved Son down to this sin-filled world to be the Saviour of sinners. The Bible tells us this: “The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:1414And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. (1 John 4:14)). Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood so that you and I can have our sins forgiven. He is our strong Man, the only One who can forgive sins and give us everlasting life.
Jesus loves you so much that He died for you. Will you come to Him for forgiveness of your sins and a promise of a home with Him in heaven? He will hear your prayer and forgive you ... right now!
ML-03/08/2009