The sun was hot and the water was warm. It was our first time snorkeling. We were swimming over the reef near a tropical island where the underwater beauty was fantastic! This was a part of God’s creation that we had never seen before, and it certainly was beautiful.
Perhaps many of you have never seen a bright blue starfish. We saw some that day, and many brightly colored fish too. Some of them were tame enough to eat out of our hands! On the bottom of the sea were many brightly colored corals of different shapes. Some were like antlers of a deer in various colors green, yellow and brown. Others were called brain coral because of their shape. Underneath some table coral we could see the spines of sea urchins.
It was all so interesting that we could have spent many more hours out there enjoying the beauty of God’s creation. It made us think of the verse of Scripture, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:1111Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11). We felt privileged to enjoy what God has created for His own pleasure.
We lost track of time enjoying the beauty and almost missed our boat home. Are any of you so interested in what you are doing that you have lost track of God’s time? What is God’s time? It is now! “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2). Sometimes people are so busy doing things and seeing things that they forget to come to the Saviour, Jesus, for salvation. Please don’t wait; time is running out. Receive Him this moment and then confess Him as your Lord. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9).
Another verse we understood a little better was this: “That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace, in His kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:77That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7). When all believers are with the Lord Jesus in heaven, time will mean nothing; there will be no time. Just think of enjoying the beauty of the Creator Himself forever. Not only is He the Creator, but He is our Redeemer. He gave His life for us.
Stop and ask yourself, “Am I going to be there?” He died for sinners, and that’s what you are. “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8). If you will come to Him as a sinner, believing that He died for your sins, you will be in heaven.
Just think of looking at those hands that healed the sick and fed the crowds. Those hands were pierced for my sins. Can you say they were pierced for your sins too?
Boys and girls, will you be in heaven with the Lord Jesus? I hope so.
ML-06/21/1992