Some Survive

June 7, 2012 Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Psalm 124:4-5 On May 21st a man went over Niagara Falls and lived. Police reports say there have been three kinds of people who have gone over the falls without protection and lived. Let's see, in 2009 there was a 30-year-old fellow from Ontario who failed at committing suicide. Then, in 2003, an American went over the edge as part of a stunt. Finally, there was a seven-year-old boy whose boat had capsized. Did I say there were three types of survivors? That's wrong. There's only one kind of survivor. All of these survivors are people whose time on this earth is not yet over. You might call it incredible luck. I'd say it was God's intervening hand. I mean, think about it. What are the odds on surviving a fall over the falls? Pretty small, I'm guessing. Of course, the odds on going over the falls and living are infinitely better than expecting to get into heaven without Jesus as your Savior. We've already seen that some people, for whatever reason, manage to make it over and through a drop over Niagara. But there is nobody who is going to get into heaven without the Savior's blood-bought forgiveness. Nobody. Period. End of reading. This leads me to two questions: 1. Why would anyone in the Christian church not throw a rope to someone who was spiritually adrift, being swept along to certain disaster? It ought to be as unthinkable as withholding a life rope from a person who is about to be swept over Niagara's precipice. 2. And the second question? Why would anyone not take hold of and desperately cling to the Savior? I can only think of one answer to that question: the person doesn't think he is in any kind of danger. He doesn't understand the imperative of holding fast to the Christ. Well, I guess I don't have to understand why people don't want the Savior. I don't need to understand. Understanding is not my job. My job is to keep calling out a warning ... and tossing out the lifeline provided by the Savior. Who knows? Maybe someday they'll grab hold. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, today I bring before you those who are close to me, those who are headed for certain destruction without the Savior. In my heart I list them by name and pray You will -- while there is still time -- help me keep the Savior before them. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen. By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®