Lifesaver

         Isn’t it strange how you can see something one hundred times or more, but you never really see it or pay much attention to it. Especially, if it is not something you use everyday or need every day. Well, today as I was walking I looked over to the pool and thought about our lives comparatively. Keep in mind that the Bible verse that I had read  earlier was “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” 1 Cor. 1:18. 

        Now think about your day, so far have you prayed? Have you thanked God for your blessings? What about reading your Bible? Or spending some quality time with Him? Have you, really? If not, stop and do so now, if you read the verse above and count that as having read the Bible, that is fine, but read it again, think about each and every word. What is the point of the verse? Well, if you have been reading my blog you know that I generally do a BRP (Bible Reading Plan) from Sunday School book and then, dive into the finer meaning that I gleaned, at write about it here on my blog. I am still doing the BRP however, Brian and I have been doing those as a part of our prayer and Bible study together of late. Yet, I still read and try and have time daily, alone with God too. Again, I am not perfect, but I am trying to be perfected.

        OKAY. Now let’s dive back into what I opened with the swimming pool and our lives comparatively.

        So, how many of you have a lifesaver at home. How many have a functioning lifesaver hanging on the wall in your living room ? I am going to go ahead and guess not many. Why? Why do you not have a lifesaver hanging in your living room? Well, most likely it is because your living room is not nautical themed or it isn’t filled with water. Which are both very good reasons not to have a lifesaver hanging on your living room wall. Now, think about a pool, especially a public pool did you see a functioning lifesaver there? Did it make sense for it to be there? Absolutely, as we don’t want to be unprepared in case of a drowning. We want to be able to help someone, or for someone else to be able to save them. As a former lifeguard I can tell you that when someone is drowning they don’t stop and think ooops I am drowning. Nor, do they scream out for help. When someone is drowning they thrash around like a mad person, flailing their arms around trying too grab on, clinging to anything that will save them. Even when an aid is offered to them it can take a bit for them to realize there is help and all they need to do is grab hold and they are safe. They will cough and cough to regain their composure and to clear their mouths and even throats from the water they absorbed. The first thing a lifeguard does is know how to swim, show that they can swim and tread water, take a CPR/first aid course/ and learn what to do in an emergency. Then, as a lifeguard they watch, listen and enforce pool safety measures. Do you think the lifeguard is supposed to jump in and grab a thrashing drowning person? No, they are advised to get to the person and offer them the flotation device, trying not to get to close, till the person has calmed down or sunk to render aid. Now, did you know that even at the Olympics there is a lifeguard on site watching the Olympians swim. That kind of seems crazy and overkill to watch professional athletes who expertly know how to swim, but it is necessary. Emergencies are not something that someone generally plans to do, they are more often than not accidents.

        Likewise in our lives we never really plan for Emergencies to happen or accidents to occur. Sometimes tragedies strike from out of no where, and we struggle with the AHHH’s and Why me type questions and mentality. Well, just as a lifeguard must be prepared to aid those around them in need of aid or rescue, so we too must be prepared for life. Our form of preparation comes through prayer, Bible reading, quality time with God and fellowship with other believers. That way when we see others around us, in need of aid we can help them. And sometimes send them the lifesaver so they can be saved. God is our ultimate lifeguard and lifesaver. He asks for the faith the size of a mustard seed, which isn’t very big is you didn’t know. When we trust God as our lifesaver we know longer need to thrash around, especially if we stay close to Him. He is there to help us in any way especially in times of crisis. However, if we spend our time doing things that aren’t smart, danger lurks. We find ourselves thrashing around in the woes of life, like we don’t know who’s we are. We want to continue to search for things other than the Lifesaver to help us, and then we drown in our selfishness, pride and sin. God then, reaches in to save us. Cleans us up, dries us off and tends to us, as we allow Him too. God will not force His help on us, but He will be there when we are tired of drowning and trying to do things our own way and in our own strength.

        As you go about your life day to day, don’t just have a random lifesaver hanging needlessly on your wall. Have the Lifesaver that knows you inside out, and is always there. Spend time with Him and know Him as well as He knows you. He will meet you where you are, you don’t have to save yourself, dry up and clean off (fix all your imperfections) He will meet you RIGHT, WHERE, YOU, ARE! Simply ask.