A person is walking along the banks of a large lake. As he does he happens to see a man who looks as if he is swimming in the water. However upon closer inspection the man walking sees that something is not right about how the swimmer is behaving. He is splashing a lot. Every few seconds he sinks under the water for longer periods of time and splashes back up to the surface only long enough to take a quick breath and sputter.
The walker just happens to have a lifesaver in his hands. He starts to throw it to the swimmer but then he hesitates.
Should I throw this to him? What if he gets upset at me?
You know he might think I’m suggesting he doesn’t know how to swim.
Will it offend him for me to throw this lifesaver out to him?
I wouldn’t want him to feel bad for being a terrible swimmer.
You know I think I will play it safe and watch him a minute before I throw it just to be sure he needs help.
I’m not a lifeguard. Maybe I should call a lifeguard to come get him out. Hmmm… There doesn’t seem to be any around here.
“Hold on, Mister! I’m calling a lifeguard for you!”
Meanwhile the swimmer goes under and the opportunity to save him is lost.
The above story probably sounds a bit absurd.
“Just throw the lifesaver already!” you’re probably saying.
And yet the above scene is what a lot of us do everyday.
We hear people complain about those who have thrown lifesavers out. They say things like, “Why doesn’t everyone just leave me alone?”
“I’m not interested in what you have to say.”
“Mind your own business. I don’t want to hear it.”
“You live life your way and I’ll live life my way.”
To us it sounds like they are saying, “Just keep that lifesaver to yourself. I enjoy splashing in this water of life.”
However if we see them struggling and yet don’t throw the lifesaver to them, we are to blame for their drowning.
On the other hand, if we throw the lifesaver to them despite the fear that they might reject it, we give them that opportunity to grab on or not. We have done our part.
The rest is up to them. We are not responsible for their decision to hold on or let go.
Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
“Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman,’
‘when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life.’
‘But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’
“So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
“Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.”
~~Ezekiel 33:1-9 NKJV
Here I am throwing the LifeSaver to you.
I know what it is like splashing around trying to get out of the water. I couldn’t reach the shore alone either.
Someone threw me the LifeSaver. They didn’t wait to see whether or not I wanted it. They threw it out there for me. I chose to accept it.
Now I’m offering it to you.
God has the strength to pull you to the shore and change your life completely.
Will you let Him?
If you have already accepted God’s LifeSaver and are wearing His Life Jacket please share your life changing story with us in the comments.
In my next post I will share with you the story of how I was saved from drowning. Literally and figuratively. Be sure to check back later this week for that. Until then…
Who will you throw the LifeSaver to today?
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