I once witnessed a near...
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I once witnessed a near drowning and it was frightening. Seeing a slightly older boy sinking below the surface for the third time became a recurring nightmare for me as a boy of ten. The victim had only himself to blame. When he was seen struggling in the water, a life preserver tied to a rope was thrown to him. Though it was within his reach he disdained its use, thinking he could swim out of his difficulty. Apparently he did not want to look like a weakling who needed help. So the life preserver was pulled back to shore. But again it looked like he was struggling and so the life preserver was thrown to him a second time. But again he refused to grasp it, apparently convinced that he could swim to shore. But it was not so. He went down for the third time. He was saved only because a police officer happened along at that very moment. The officer jumped into the water and rescued the boy. There is a spiritual lesson here. We humans are born into a sinful world, in a body that is susceptible to temptations. We cannot save ourselves from the sin that engulfs us. But long ago God devised a lifeline to bring us safely to eternal life. He ordained that Christ should suffer on the cross, paying the penalty for our sins, and then be raised again as conqueror of death. We have only to believe in Christ and his resurrection to receive God's forgiveness and his gift of eternal life. Some people, unfortunately, refuse God's offer and so they sink amid life's involvements. But those who will confess with their lips that Jesus is Lord will be saved. Jesus is God's lifeline to assure us of salvation and eternal life. -- Lentz
