Drowning

Back around 1974 Uncle Melvin and his son Sam, Dad and I were out boating in the back waters of Bompas Creek. I remember we decided to see how the john boat would do in the flood waters of the creek. The current was moving fast and we were headed down stream. When we came to the bridge the current was to strong and the motor was to small. As we came to rest up against the edge of the bridge (the water at road level). Dad tried to turn the boat around but the motor died. Water began to come over the side and the boat was swept under by the current. I remember sitting there and the next thing I remember is seeing the bottom of the bridge. The next thing I saw was Dad. We were on the other side of the bridge. I looked around and my uncle and his son had gotten into the trees. But Dad and I were headed down stream. Finally, after a mile we were able to get into the trees. There happen to be a young boy about two years older than me. He was standing on the bridge. He ran home told his Dad. Soon there was help on the way. But we all survived because we had our life vest on. There are millions of people drowning in sin and we have a life vest. That life vest is the gospel message. We have people in our churches drowning, we have people in the world drowning.

Maybe they have taken their life vest off, maybe they didn’t know there was one available. If nobody throws you a life vest when your drowning. I’ve got news for you; if you can’t swim your gonna die. But if you put the life vest on it saves you. Does it do any good to say I believe this life vest has the power to save and not put it on? By faith you have to put it on. Someone might say you don’t save yourself the life vest saves you. That’s right the life vest does all the work. You can not be saved by your faith only. The life vest only works when you put it on. Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:1-11 (read). I’m not saying baptism is the only step in the plan of salvation. What I am advocating that it is a step in the plan. Notice that baptism is necessary in being united with Christ. Tells us right there in Romans chapter six “For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. If your drowning don’t you want someone to throw you a life vest? We have the greatest life vest and how many of us hoard it ? I’m reminded of that old hymn “ Throw out the life line.”