When one goes to a safe beach for a swim, just wonderfully cooling off on a hot sunny day, one should always “Swim between the Flags,” for that is the only safe place on the beach, and really the safest place to swim, for it is there that we will always find the ‘Lifeguards,’ patiently standing there on active duty, they are constantly scanning the waters, and they will quickly come to your aid, should you ever get into any difficulty, just quickly raise your hand and they will be right there beside you in a quick moment, strong arms lifting you up, rescued. Jesus is the ultimate ‘Surf Rescue Attendant,’ he is always on duty, and his eyes are ever observant, and he has rescued and saved everybody and anybody who reaches out to him in faith, let us reach out quickly and fall into his eternal arms, if you are doubting, then just ask Peter about his falling short on ‘Water Walking,’ Jesus was there in a flash, and lifted him up, and placed his feet on a solid footing. Satan will encourage you and I, to get into places, places where there is little or no hope, then he washes over you those mighty waves of fear and doubt and apprehension, and then rejoices when you perish far from salvation, one more kept from Jesus and Salvation, one more bound up in the grip of sin and death, one more Drowned in Sin; literally.
Psalm 84:11-12 “For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good [thing] will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed [is] the man that trusteth in thee.” Proverbs 2:7 “He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: [he is] a buckler to them that walk uprightly.” Deuteronomy 5:32-33 “Ye shall observe to do therefore, as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left. Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and [that it may be] well with you, and [that] ye may prolong [your] days in the land which ye shall possess.”
Song; I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more, But the master of the sea, Heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, Now safe am I. Chorus; Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, Love lifted me, Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, Love, lifted, me. {Kenny Rogers}
Hymn 367; 1/ Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, snatch them in pity from sin and the grave. Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen, tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save. Chorus; Resue the perishing, care for the dying, Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save. 2/ Though they are slighting him, still he is waiting, waiting the penitent child to receive. Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently; He will forgive if they only believe. Chorus; Resue the perishing, care for the dying, Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save. 3/ Rescue the perishing, Duty demands it, strength for thy labour the Lord will provide; back to the narrow way, patiently win them; tell the poor wanderer a Saviour has died. Chorus; Resue the perishing, care for the dying, Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save. {Fanny Crosby}
Quote; “It was Christ’s joy to help those in need of help, to seek the lost, to rescue the perishing, to lift up the bowed down, to heal the sick, to speak words of sympathy and consolation to the sorrowing and the distressed. The more fully we are imbued with his Spirit, the more earnestly we shall work for those around us; and the more we do for others, the greater will be our love for the work, and the greater our delight in following the Master. Our hearts will be filled with the love of God; and with earnestness and convincing power we shall speak of the crucified Saviour. {CEv 39}
Quote; “When Christ was on the earth, he went about doing good. It was his mission to help those who needed help, to seek the lost, to rescue the perishing, to lift up the bowed down, to break off the yoke of oppression from those who were in bondage, to heal the sick, and to speak words of sympathy and consolation to all the sorrowing and distressed. He was not often found among the most wealthy and honored, nor with those who were seeking their own ease and pleasure. He went among the humble and the poor. He sought out those who most felt the need of his help. The more we are imbued with the spirit of Christ, the more we shall seek to do for our fellow-creatures; and the more we do for others, the greater will be our love for the work, and the greater our delight in following the footsteps of our divine Master. {RH, October 23, 1888}
Quote; “Soldiers of Christ are now wanted to push the battle to the front. Marshall under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel, wear his armor, and press the battle to the gate. The gospel of the kingdom of Christ must go into new countries, and enter new provinces. We are laborers together with God. Brethren and sisters, why hover about the churches? Study the parable of the lost sheep, and go forth as true shepherds, seeking the lost one who is in the wilderness of sin. Rescue the perishing. {RH, December 12, 1893} God is pleading with us to go out and to rescue the perishing, to care for the dying, Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save. So will you step up and become a “Life-Guard,” to be in active service, to be on “Active Duty,”- 24/7, always observant and on duty, a soldier of the Cross; Active? It is so easy to be passive, to let somebody else attend to that, not my calling, 2 Peter 1:10 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” Let us never fall short of the glory of God, becoming ‘Passive,’ God has set us as ‘Watchmen,’ let us enrolled in ‘Active Service,’ working for God as ‘Lifeguards,’ even for those who foolishly omit to “Swim between the Flags.”
