08/01/13 "SWIMMER"

08/01/13 "SWIMMER"

"Swimmer" slowly edged away from the shoreline, despite the warnings he had been given, concerning the alluring but dangerous waters. Friends and family encouraged "swimmer" to move closer to shallower water, but their calls were either unheard or unheeded. Though the busy lifeguard had warned "swimmer" several times, he continued to slip into deeper water and away from the reach of caring loved ones.

When the crowd along the beach finally saw "swimmer" for the last time, he had gone beyond the breakers and appeared to be swimming vigorously away from shore. The cries, screams and attempts to reach "swimmer" all sank in despair as he disappeared in a watery grave.

How sad this story must be for loved ones who have lost someone to a drowning at the beach.

How sad is the fact that every day people move further and further from the call of loved ones, the warnings of Christians and the appeal of God to turn from the grasp of sin to safety of God's salvation. "Sinner" is determined to do things his own way, in his own time, unaware, and without care that the further he moves from God, the less chance he has of returning to safety.

You see, God is able to reach sinner no matter how far he moves from God, but sinner can get so far from God that he will no longer respond to the call of God.

And there we stand, crying out, knowing that time is running out for those who will not heed the call of love to be saved from their sins.