For Brian

A man fell into the sea. He was a powerful man, not just in status but also in statute. He had great muscle strength. The people on the boat threw him a life saver. This floating device was designed to save lives. The man full of pride believed he could save himself and began to swim towards the boat. The man in all of his strength fought hard but the undercurrent was much stronger and continued to carry him further out to sea. He eventually gave up and the sea overtook him, carrying him to his death. The floating device bobbing up and down was untouched. The floating device was designed to save lives. It worked, it was good, yet he died.

Another man fell into the sea, in his fear he grasped for the floating device. People began to pull him in, but he continued to flair his arms wildly and kicking his feet frantically. People shouted at him to be still and to hold on tightly to the device but he wouldn’t listen. As the waves got higher and the wind began to blow, his kicking made it difficult to pull him in. He was tossed to and fro and due to his arms flailing about, he was thrown from the floating device and carried out to sea to his death.

You watched in horror but you did not see the one man’s failure to reach out to a device that was designed to save his life. Nor did you see the other mans failure to hold on tightly to the device so he could be pulled out of the raging sea. Through your eyes you saw a device that didn’t save their lives. Through your eyes you saw what you were told was a life saving device that didn't work. You didn’t trust this so-called life saver, so when you found yourself in the middle of the raging sea, waves overtaking you, you didn’t even bother reaching for the floating device that was just inches within your grasp, you laid your arms over your chest, closed your eyes and let the sea shallow you up.

The floating device was designed to save lives, it works, it does exactly what it was designed to do, but you have to reach for it, grab it, wrap your arms around it and hold on to it with every bit of strength you have inside of you. As the waves cover you and the undercurrent pulls you down, your grasp on the life saver will get you to safety. It is guaranteed to do that IF you just hold on.

Jesus was designed to save lives. That is the reason he was born. Those that refuse to grab a hold of him because of pride do so by choice, it is not HIS fault. Those that grab on, but let go and continue to do things their own way and fall back into the raging sea, do so by choice, it is not HIS fault. The life saver is not defective because it was not used for the purpose it was designed. Neither is Jesus defective nor is His blood and sacrifice rendered ineffective for you because someone else did not apply His blood, His word and His promises to their lives. Jesus loves YOU! He died so YOU could be free! He can bring you safely out of the raging sea and put your feet on solid ground. He can do that, IF you reach out grab a hold and don’t let go.

I love you Brian.