Notwithstanding all the previous comments, the most miraculous occurrence to me throughout the evening was the peace that pervaded my soul in the face of death. How can I explain the absolute peace that so enveloped me throughout the entire night? I confronted death, but I did so without panic, terror, fear, anger or even resignation at the thought of dying. I was, however, virtually positive that I would be physically dead by the end of September 6.
I am not speaking of a giving of myself over to the sense of the inevitable. That would be resignation. I never got to a place where I was just resigned to the fact I would die. If I did, I would have just given up. I didn’t. I was looking at the facts. As I have said, I knew where I was, to the tenth of a mile, I knew the water temperature and I understood hypothermia. I knew I was about to fight for my life. Yes, I was angry, but the anger I had was not at death; it was anger at the stupidity of the accident and the fact that I was not wearing a life jacket. I knew I was about to die, but I had no fear or terror, because I believe that my soul is saved for an eternal life with God after this life.
I know from faith in the Scriptures that my soul is saved. I believe that Jesus of Nazareth was and is the Son of God, and He made atonement upon the cross for my sins. I know that if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ you will be saved. God says the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses everyone who believes. That includes me. God has only one way of dealing with sin according to His own righteousness, and that is by the sacrifice and death of Jesus.
In essence, all of the world’s religions can be boiled down to two — a religion of good works or a religion of faith. The Bible clearly states that it is by faith and not our good works that we are saved. It is faith in the work of Christ upon the cross. Nothing else.
I also know that if God had decided my life’s journey was over, then He would have taken me home. If, however, His purposes for my present life were not finished, then I would survive. That is His prerogative, not mine. Like I said in the story, I am not in control. That is why I had the perplexity of spirit. Was my journey really over? What had I accomplished for Him? In the depth of the deep, I did not know the answer to those questions. I do now.