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Mar 08, 2024 18:30pm

Swept by the Waves, Saved by Grace

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The waves were about to take me under, and I needed help! Panic surged through me! Would I die out here?

I was young, maybe 5th or 6th grade, and we went to Wild River Country with the church. At some point, I decided I wanted to go to the wave pool. I can’t remember if others from my group went, too, but I was by myself enjoying a swim. Others had floaties as they lounged in the pool, but I preferred to swim.

I was an excellent swimmer. We spent summers at my grandmother’s swimming in her pool and time at the White River and Walden’s Creek. I loved the water.

I had ventured into the deep end, where the toes on my petite 4’6” body couldn’t touch the bottom. All of a sudden, a horn sounded.

What was that?

Again, new to the wave pool, I didn’t know what to expect. But there I was, out in the middle of this crowded pool, and waves began to surge.

At first, I could hold my own. I was treading water, rising and falling with the small waves, and it wasn’t so bad. But then, the force of the wave began to pull me further towards the deep end. I tried to swim to the side, but it kept pulling me back.

People in their floaties were bumping into me, and I was getting tired. I kept thinking, don’t they see me struggling?

The waves were about to take me under, and I needed help! Panic surged through me! Would I die out here?

The urge to cry out for help welled inside me, but I wouldn’t do it. I was a good swimmer. I could do this. I could make it.

But it was a lie.

I couldn’t do it on my own.

I saw a kid floating on a tube getting closer to me. I felt the cold rubber next to my hand and I grabbed onto the side of it and held on until the waves stopped.

I was saved.

As soon as the waves stopped, I made my way out of that pool, vowing never to go into the deep without floaties and to help anyone I saw struggling.

John 3:17-18
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Remember the purpose of John writing this book? It was to prove who Jesus was – the Son of God, the Messiah. He includes these verses where Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about the Kingdom of God, death, and salvation.

Jesus’ purpose wasn’t to come and condemn people, which the Pharisees often did, Nicodemus being one of them. He didn’t come to judge but instead to save.

He came to seek and save the lost. The ones drowning, trying desperately to keep their head above water but failing. He came to offer them salvation.

He does something even better than just allowing us to hold onto His floaties as we move to calm waters. He hears the cries from our hearts, and He dives in, scooping us up into His arms, putting breath back into our lungs, and holding us above the water. All while He sacrifices his own life to save ours.

This is why Jesus came: to save us.

What are you going through today? Are you drowning in worry, fear, regret, hate, pride? You realize you cannot do it alone. You need a rescue, but are you willing to call out to the only One who can help?

Cry out to Jesus.

He came so that through Him, the world might be saved.

He came for you.