Life Preserver

A sweet friend of mine invited me to go kayaking; I’ve never been, so I excitedly accepted! It wasn’t until a bit later that I realized what a kayak actually looks like and how short the sides are that might keep you safely inside!! But then I thought to myself, “Don’t worry, remember that one time back about 9 decades ago, at girl scout camp, where they taught you how to survive in the unfortunate event of a capsized canoe?! See God has been preparing you for this moment! You’ll be fine!” This reminds me of something Scriptural of course…

Isaiah 7 finds a king freaking out down by the water where clothes were washed. I don’t know, maybe doing laundry was a stress reliever for him (I wonder if my friend would mind if I brought some laundry along to do lakeside while she preps the kayaks)?! Anyway, God meets him where he’s at and I love that Jesus never comes to us with, “What’s your problem?!” but rather with “I know that struggle. (Hebrews 14:5)” 

In Isaiah 7:9 there seems to be a Hebrew play on words: If you do not have faith (ta’aminu) you will not stand firm (te’amenu). By verse 14 God gives this king a sign to reassure him and yet the word used for “you” is actually plural!! Which means the sign of reassurance given in verse 14 was also for us!!! …Look the virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). 

Now, what should we always have with us near water? A life preserver!! However life preservers can be hot, itchy and uncomfortable on a sunny lake, but knowing the benefit of them and what it is potentially saving me from, I will most certainly choose to endure a bit of discomfort in lue of survival! 

The Good News of Jesus can be like offering someone a life preserver (John 3:16). However if we don’t tell them the whole story, that Jesus isn’t just an option but THE ONLY option for survival (John 14:6) then why would they endure a life with a preserver when at times it might seem much more comfortable to go without?! 

Without firm faith in Jesus, your “ship” goes down in flames. This life is the only time we get to make our choice as to who will pay the penalty for our own sin; either we will or we can take Jesus as our Savior, allowing His sacrificial blood to cover us. God honors our choice.

For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the days of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2