Once again Mr. Benn looked up at the deep-blue sky above the towering canyon walls of the Snake River and thanked the Lord for perfect weather. Having gone down this river before did not make white-water rafting any easier, and especially not today! With the unusually high waters, he knew that the real test of the rapids would begin a few more miles downstream. He was more experienced than the two teenagers in the raft, but he knew they were both strong. Kevin and Jason laughed as they exchanged stories back and forth. As the raft approached the first set of rapids, they asked Mr. Benn about the treasure-decorated hat he wore, filled with every souvenir pin possible.
“Before coming here,” Jason began, “I never could have understood the excitement of white water . . .” but the rest of his sentence was lost in the roar of the rapids. The three rafters quickly threw their strength into guiding the raft through the swirling waters. Mr. Benn remembered that just ahead was the biggest set of white-water rapids. Suddenly a wave jerked the raft. Mr. Benn was thrown from his seat out of the raft and sucked into the deadly whirlpool. His knowledge of rafting made him aware of his danger in the freezing waters swirling around him. He knew there was only one way he would make it out alive. And there it was! Just within his reach was the coil of rope someone must have just thrown to him.
Yards of rope tore through his hand as he was sucked deeper into the whirlpool. One hand strained to hold the rope; the other hand held his treasured hat. The bag at his end of the rope not only signaled the end of 50 feet, but it would have signaled the end of Mr. Benn if . . . . Instantly, knowing this was life or death, he let go of his hat and clung to the rope with both hands!
Which would you choose—a hat or your life? “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life.” That’s what the Lord God offers you in Deuteronomy 30:1919I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: (Deuteronomy 30:19). But how can you reach God’s safety rope of life? “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth upon him” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)). There’s your answer.
All this time, the raft with the two teenagers had continued downstream—pulling, pulling—and now had finally pulled Mr. Benn free of the whirlpool.
Jason blinked in surprise. “Hey, Kevin, there’s Mr. Benn in the water! He must have fallen off!” Dropping their paddles in the raft, they pulled in the rope, dragging a gasping Mr. Benn to safety.
“Thanks for tossing me the rope, Kevin.”
“But I didn’t . . . ! Did you, Jason?”
Reaching for his paddle again, Jason stopped suddenly. . . . “No.”
The roar of the next set of rapids was the only sound as each one silently considered what had just happened. Looking back into the spray, Mr. Benn realized that God Himself had thrown the rope out to save his life.
And this same God is saying to you, “Whoso findeth Me, findeth life” (Proverbs 8:3535For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord. (Proverbs 8:35)). GRAB THE ROPE . . . IT’S FOR YOU!
ML-04/07/2019