Be the Hero

We went to a birthday party today where they had swimming.  While I was still lathering everybody up with sun screen, Lora Beth started flailing around in the water, and then I heard something that changed my whole demeanor.  I saw her pop up out of the deep end water, and she spit out, "I'm drowning!"  Now if any of you know me, you know I don't really like water, and I hate to even get my head under.  But I just jumped in and pulled her over to the ladder. 

Now the rescue didn't look poetic or dignified.  I was probably sputtering as much as she was, but in an instant it was over.  The danger had passed.  Then I realized what had just happened.  I could have lost one of my children!  What if I hadn't been there?  She could have died right there.

I have heard salvation described as pulling a drowning person out of a sea that is full of drowning people.  We pass those drowning people in the aisles of Wally World every time we're there.  Dying people check us out at the cash register.  They honk at us in the parking lot and cut us off on the street.  These are the people that Jesus wants.  They are the people that Jesus gave up His life for.  Trust the Holy Spirit's guidance when you see someone who looks like they need hope.  That's what our salvation is - HOPE.  Give out the hope of Jesus, and help someone out of the hopeless ocean of sin and pain.  It is awesome to pull someone from drowning.  Let's pull them out of something that not only affects this life, but the next.

Let's also not forget that those of us who know Christ were once drowning in our own sin and shame, too.  Someone cared enough to reach out a hand and pull us out with the simple message of the gospel.  It's our turn to be the hero for someone who needs this hope of Christ.