The Last Words of a Drowning Man

"Lord save me." Drowning is one of the worst ways to die. I nearly drowned. I was 13 and unsaved. If God had not intervened I would be in hell today. No one came to my rescue. It was a feeling I'll never forget. It was in 1967 and I still feel the desperation of needing, wanting someone to help. There were adults on the shore but none would come help. I mouthed the words "save me." Another's cry had made me jump in to save him; he got himself on top of me and held me under to save himself, yet no one would help me. It was as close to hell as I've ever been.

What has this to do with us? Peter was in the same situation. No! Not Peter! You'd expect him to die on the dock or hit his head on the boat. He was a fisherman, born and bread; he knew the water and handled it well. Yet here he is walking on the water and then began to sink. He was in the very water he was so familiar with. He knew all the fishing places in the lake. We must not get too comfortable with the life around us. Let's not forget that life can take a turn and we can drown in it–in our own life. When we least expect the storms, they rise. Our "boat" begins to sink. The very water Peter knew and the very life we know can reach up after us. When Peter saw the fury of the storm, he looked at it. If he had kept looking at Jesus he would have been all right. We may walk on our "water" now, but remember it's not as trustworthy as it looks. The devil may not sink you today, but he'll sink you tomorrow. If anyone could handle a boat, Peter, James and John could… BUT NOT IN THIS STORM.

No one had ever walked on water before. In the Old Testament the water was parted. But here Jesus is walking on it, the very water that was drowning them. JESUS WALKS OVER IT ALL. JESUS WALKS TO THOSE WHO ARE SINKING. HE WALKS IN PROXIMITY TO US AND CAN WALK ON OUR PROBLEMS.

Peter came down and walked on the water. If Peter can, we can too. We see others sinking but we don't have to. With faith Peter did what could not be done. Without that faith, that focus on Jesus, we will drown. The water was putting Peter down. Is life getting you down? Have you realized you're beginning to sink? Do you feel helpless and vulnerable? The devil can squash us like ants. It takes about three minutes to drown. Peter realized while he had a little time left that he had to have help right then. We have less time than Peter did–we never know.

Peter needed help and his Rescuer was near. Jesus is within reach. Peter saw how close He was. He looked up and cried out. He didn't say a whole lot. He simply said "Lord, save me." Peter reached up or these could have been the last words of a drowning man.

So, are you going down? Do you realize you're drowning? There is no one to help BUT Jesus is near. Reach your heart up. Jesus caught Peter. He caught him, calmed the storm and the water. Peter could have said a lot of things, but he said "of a truth thou art the Son of God." Until you cry out you won't know Jesus. It's time to cry out.