I saw this humorous story in an encouragement email I receive monthly. It made me chuckle – and think!
“A shipwrecked sailor spent several years on a deserted island. One morning he was thrilled to see a ship offshore and a small boat pulling out toward him! When the boat arrived, its occupant handed the marooned sailor a bundle of newspapers and said: ‘With the captain’s compliments. He said to read through these and let us know if you still want to be rescued.’”
Looking at just the headlines this morning, if I were that shipwrecked sailor, I am not sure how I would answer when the captain gave him the option of being rescued or not.
Our Father, through His Son Christ Jesus, made the way for our rescue from death and condemnation. (We celebrated that rescue on Resurrection Sunday.)
Now He invites us to come to Him by faith through the grace He provides. He invites us to be reconciled. Even though we are enemies, He has made a way for us to become His Children.
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” [2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV]
Like that shipwrecked sailor, however, we have the option of accepting that rescue offer (reconciliation!) or spending the rest of our lives (and all eternity) shipwrecked.
The choice is ours. This is one time it is imperative we choose wisely.
