THE LIFEBOAT

        Imagine you are on a sinking ship 2,000 miles from shore. You are wishing the situation was different, you are wishing for another ship, you wish you knew how to swim! Let’s say you, and the others on the ship decide to swim for shore. You say a prayer and all jump into the water. Some sink immediately, some try to turn back, and some actually start to swim. The group starts out strong. However, with time they begin to grow weary. One by one they begin to sink. Not good. The others swim on with fixed focus. More begin to sink. Not good. There are fewer and fewer. Finally there is one. Only one. He is tired. Let’s say he swims 1,000 miles. Half way. ( beyond a world record). He only lacks 1,000 miles. There is no hope. He did better than everyone imagined… only to drown in a different location.

       This is much like those that try to get to heaven by their own effort. Heroic feats, just not enough. It’s just too far. The Bible says that we have sinned (Romans 3:23), i.e. we have holes in our boat. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), i.e. the boat is going to sink. We can not save ourselves (Romans 5:8) i.e. …too far to swim. We are in a mess!

     Good News! There is a Lifeboat! A Lifeboat can save people that swim and also those that don’t swim. You see, your swimming ability is not a factor. You just have to get in the boat.  You should know however….

     It is not enough to believe that the boat can save you! You have to get into the boat. You can believe with all you heart that the boat can save you and you can drown while believing this. It is not your “faith” that saves you, it’s the “boat” that saves you.  By faith you get into the boat, but it is the boat, not your faith that saves you. This “boat” is Jesus Christ. He lived, died, rose again, and is alive to day.. to pay the price of your failures (sins).  He is your hope. There is no other. None!

    So you have a choice!

      1. Stop swimming. Get into the boat. As you would trust a lifeboat, trust Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection and payment in full for your sins. Life is good in the lifeboat. My choice is the lifeboat.

      2. Swim on. Alone, tired, no shore in sight, you are also swimming by faith you know,. ..faith in your swimming. A heroic feat that no one will remember, because it didn’t work.  

     There is room for you in the lifeboat you know. You can see a difference in those in the boat and those in the water. Don’t be an idiot, get in the boat!