Duke had heard that big waves were expected at a certain beach. He and his friends spent the night on the beach, waiting to ride the waves on their surfboards early the next morning.
As the friends peered through the early morning fog, they saw a fishing boat out in the ocean, coming close to shore. Instead of the fun they expected to have, they watched an alarming sight as a huge wave hit the boat and flipped it over, throwing the fishermen into the dangerous surf.
Without stopping to think of his own danger, Duke grabbed his surfboard and paddled out into the wild waves. He pulled four of the terrified fishermen onto his board and told them to wrap their arms tightly around it. The board somersaulted once, but the men hung on and made it safely to shore.
Duke raced back out into the wild, crashing waves to try to rescue more of the terrified fishermen. He pulled four more onto his board, but they had to leave others behind who were still floundering in the water. Duke and the second group of fishermen also managed to make it safely into shore.
Duke was certainly very brave to risk his own life, battling those wild, crashing waves to save as many fishermen as he could. Another man, Christ Jesus, not only risked His life for men, women and children floundering in their sins, but He knew it was going to cost Him His life in order to save us. Because He loves us so much, He came from heaven to earth to die for sinners who were facing the wrath of God for their sins. On Calvary’s cross He took all of God’s punishment for the sins of every person who will trust Him. The floundering fishermen had to be willing to trust Duke and his surfboard if they were going to be saved from drowning. And you and I have to be willing to trust Jesus and the blood He shed on the cross to cleanse us from our sins. Those who trust Him are saved from their sins eternally, and a place is reserved for them in heaven. “The blood of Jesus Christ [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)).
Duke was able to rescue eight of the fishermen from drowning that morning, and his friends saved four more. Sadly, they weren’t able to save others from drowning. But the story of Jesus can provide a much happier ending, for He is able to save EVERYONE who will turn to Him for safekeeping. “He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him” (Hebrews 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)).
ML-07/12/2009