Because We Are Drowning

"A number of years ago, I was at the beach with my son, Jonathan, who was quite young at the time. I was helping him catch waves and, as it turned out, a little riptide got hold of me. Suddenly I was no longer able to touch bottom. I realized I was getting pulled by this little riptide, and the frustrating thing was that I was so close to the shore.

It would have been extremely humiliating for me, a guy who has been around the beach all of his life, to cry out for help so close to land. So I didn't say anything. I was holding Jonathan above the water, getting pulled out a little bit more. I noticed the lifeguard was kind of looking at me, probably waiting for me to yell for help, but I did not want to do that.

I was getting pulled out a little bit further, a little bit deeper, and the lifeguard most likely thought, What an idiot! I am going to have to save this guy. He started swimming our way, and just as he got to us, I was able to get my feet on the bottom again. I told him, "I am okay. It's all right." Why wouldn't I cry out for help? I was too proud.

In the same way, we don't like to say, "I need God's help." We want to say, "I am a good person. I am a strong person." Though you may be a good man or a good woman, you have sinned, just like every one of us has sinned. And one sin is enough to keep us out of heaven. That is why we need a Savior. We need a Savior because we are drowning. He is God's gift to us." Pastor Greg