This past week we were away on vacation for our children's spring break.  We enjoyed a wonderful week together as a family.  That was, until the last night of our trip.  At the end of each day we would take the kids to the hotel pool to enjoy a couple of hours of swimming before bedtime.  I  went to the pool with no intention of swimming, only to observe the newly acquired skills my children had learned tht week: flipping, handstands, and back floating.  The pool was crowded and I had my eye on a little girl that was about the same age as my youngest daughter, 7 years old.  During the week she had been a little rambunctious in the pool.  Tonight, she was in the five foot end with my daughter, both were clinging to the side of the pool.  My youngest had just learned to swim in the deep end so I was watching her closely from my chair at the side of the pool.  My daughter let go of the side of the pool and proceeded to swim to the center.  Before I knew it this little girl had jumped on the back of my daughter and was clinging to her, my little one, who was quite bouyant apart from a 60 pound floater attached to her back, began to sink.  

 

I immediately ran to try to grab the girls.  They were out of my reach so I yelled to a mom that was literally within arms reach: "Save them...they're drowning!"  The message was crystal clear.  In my desperation I didn't hesitate in screaming the words at the top of my lungs, but this mother just stared at me with a glaze in her eyes.  I wasn't sure she heard me or not so I kept screaming it.  My husband who was on his way to the pool heard me in the parking lot.   The crowd began to gather, but no one would help me.  I was left on my own.  I franctically grabbed at them, drenching myself in the process, but victorious in pulling both girls out of the water.

 

No one said anything, everyone just stared.  I must have appeared to have two heads.  Why didn't anyone respond?  My daughter was in tears, "Mommy, she was on top of me.  She wouldn't let me up."  I wrapped her in a towel and sat her on my lap.  My husband encouraged me to let her go back in the water, and with great hesitation I relented, not wanting her to remain fearful of the water.  I , however, was soaking wet and shaken to the bone.  My fear soon turned to anger.  I began to seeth at the thought that no one would come to their rescue.  Why wouldn't anyone listen?  Why didn't anyone respond?

 

Soon my thoughts turned to tears as the Lord reminded me of Noah. "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.  By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness  that comes by faith" (Hebrews 11:7).  Noah was commissioned to build an ark because of an impending flood, but no one else would heed the warning.  I wiped my tears thinking, is this how it is to be with the Lord's return.  Will no one heed His warning?  Will many miss the boat because they didn't recognize the signs, or because they simply refused to respond to His promptings?

 

Our God is the same yesterday and today and forever (reference Hebrews 13:8).  His message has not changed, nor has His method of deliverance.  He is coming soon.  He has built for us an Ark - His Word, the Holy Bible.  May we get on board and share His Truth to a world that is drowning in sin and in desperate need of saving - whether they listen or fail to listen (reference Ezekiel 2:7)!

 

(Matthew 3:2)