Lifeguard

By Erik Farstad

January 8, 1998

"...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1

Have you ever fallen into a pool with clothes on or been completely drenched by the rain while fully clothed? Well then you remember how hard it was to walk around while carrying all that extra weight sticking to your body. You also remember that it would have taken you forever to dry-off unless you "took off" your wet rags. Not to mention the fact that these heavy wet rags cause you to get sick, and depending on the circumstances, even death can occur unless you get out of the freezing wet rags!

Is sin any different? No! Sin in our lives is like the wet-freezing-sticking to our bodies-rags. It weighs us down and causes us to get sick, not physically but spiritually. Depending on how long you keep your wet rags on, the sicker and sicker you will become. Now if that�s not bad enough, you�re running, running a race!

The race is our life, the pre-destined path the Lord has for each one of us. Are you running with your wet rags on?. We all have rags that we can get rid of. So take off your wet rags, your sins. Go to the Lord, He is your lifeguard! He will jump into the pool when you fall, He will tear off your wet rags, He will dry you off with the blood He shed and He will place you back on the path of righteousness. You CAN�T do this alone, so go to Him now! Don�t wait for Hell�s flames to dry you. The warmth may temp you, but the fire will burn you!!!

Let this be your prayer today:

Dear Lord, thank you for being my lifeguard. When I turn in repentance to you, asking you to tear off my wet rags you are always there. You dry me of my transgressions and place me in your warmth of grace and mercy. Lord, I choose to run the race on the path you have set before me. I desire to lay aside every weight that hinders me from my race. Lord, please convict me of those "weights" in my life that I must toss aside. Thank you that you allow me to come to you unclean, damp and wet with sin...only to walk away pure, dry and Holy! Let my thanks be the life I live for you, to be a Godly example to those around me, doing all things to glorify you and you alone! In Jesus� name, Amen.

If you feel like you are waited down, your life feels heavy, than there is great news. If you do not know Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, today is your day. As you have read, only Jesus Christ can lift the weight from your shoulders. For years, until I was seventeen, I walked with a heavy heart. I was drowning in my selfish, Godless life. Friend, I don�t want you to drown. If you feel the tug of Christ on your heart, DO NOT deny Him! Between you and God, repeat this prayer:

Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner and cannot be saved on my own. I ask you to take from me, my wet rags, and wash me with the blood of Jesus Christ. I accept Jesus into my heart, knowing and believing that He is the Son of God, my personal Lord and Savior. Amen.

God Bless You!

In Him, "E"