It was only a few more yards to the other side of the river. As I tried to swim against the current with my arms and legs feeling dead tired, my mind kept asking, “Why did you get yourself into this trouble?”
I had come to the river with my two older brothers. We were the only ones there, so we decided to go in for a quick swim. The river was not very wide at this point but quite deep even close to the banks. Jumping from an over-hanging tree branch, we still couldn’t touch the bottom.
After jumping off the tree branch and swimming along the shore, my two brothers raced each other to the other side. I told them I was coming, too, especially after they said they didn’t think I could make it.
About half way across I began to get tired. The current was much stronger here and I was gradually being carried downstream. I kept trying to swim but there wasn’t any strength left in my arms!
What a picture of the sinner without Christ. He works so hard attempting to save himself as he tries to do what he thinks is right. He tries so hard to “get himself to the other side.” But he is just sinking deeper and deeper in sin without any hope of making it on his own.
Finally realizing that I was not going to make it, I tried to call for help. My brothers, who were lying down in the sunshine, weren’t pang any attention to me. I tried to call again and got a mouthful of water. I went under but still tried to keep swimming. I rose to the surface for a moment and shouted to my brothers. They didn’t seem to understand that my call was for help, and continued dozing in the sunshine.
Unlike the sleeping brothers, the Lord Jesus Christ is ready, willing and able to save all those who call on Him. His Word says, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” Isaiah 59:11Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (Isaiah 59:1).
As I went under several more times, I tried to call for help once more. My oldest brother suddenly yelled, “Hey, Jim, he’s drowning! He’s drowning!” As I was going under again and still trying to move my arms, they both jumped into the water. Quickly they swam to where I was struggling. I felt a hand under each of my arms. I let them lift my head above the water as they pulled me toward shore. I quit struggling and relaxed knowing that I could rely on them. They had come in to save me. Now I was their responsibility and I was very willing to let them save me. How good it felt, in my weakness, to be supported by their strength.
This is just the way a lost sinner gets saved. When he knows he is in danger, he tries harder and harder to save himself. He fails again and again and finds out at last that he is “without strength.” Then he cries, “Lord, save me!” and finds underneath him the “everlasting arms.” He relies on those arms, trusts the Lord Jesus Christ, leaves the responsibility with Him, and he is saved. Jesus saves by coming down to the sinner “dead in trespasses and sins.” If you will just let the One who has come down to save you lift you up, you will be saved. “Ye were without Christ... having no hope, and without God in the world: but now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometime were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:1212That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (Ephesians 2:12). 13.
ML-09/07/1980