The Lifeguard
It was the look of terror in her eyes which first alerted me to the danger. It was 1975 in the High Sierra mountains of California as I sat on the log out over the high mountain lake relaxing in the warmth of the summer sun. A group of teenagers decided to take a swim out into the cold lake. One of the girls was a very poor swimmer and was reluctant to go out very far. Peer pressure is an amazing thing to witness. Knowing her swimming skills were poor, she really did not want to go out into the deeper parts of the lake. Peer pressure from the other teenagers won the day and out into the deep waters they swam.
Letting our eyes off a goal can be terrifying. When we lose sight, our mind begins to conjure up images of what can go wrong. As long as the teens stayed together the swim was fun. Then, realization stepped in and the young teenage girl realized she could no longer touch the bottom. She was in over her head, and it was that first look of terror in her eyes alerted me to her situation. She had lost sight of the goal and realized the lake was deep, her heart raced and before she could scream, I saw the look of outright terror and desperation in her eyes as she looked to me for help. The lifeguard was about to get wet.
Jesus came to the boat with the 12 disciples while He was walking on the water. As shocking as this was for the disciples, He calmed their fears by telling them “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” (Matt. 14:27b [NKJV]). Peter, the excited rambunctious one then asked Jesus if he too could “walk on the water.” “So, He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matt. 14:29-31).
Jesus is our Lifeguard! First, Peter might have succumbed to some peer pressure. Secondly, his beginning few steps on the water must have lifted his spirit with the amazing concept of one actually walking on the water. Then, Peter realized his “walking on water skills” were poor and he saw he could no longer touch the bottom. Peter was in way over his head. Peter lost sight of the goal and Jesus must have seen that look of terror in his eyes even before Peter could scream out for help.
Jesus the lifeguard! There are four principles to lifeguarding. These are known as “reach, throw, row, go.” Safety measures for the lifeguard, so a drowning situation is not escalated. I used to teach the concept of, “It is better that one drown, than two.” Lifeguards must follow the rules. When a situation develops and the lifeguard swings into action it is much safer to first “reach” out and grab the drowning victim without entering the water. “And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him…” (Matt. 14:31a). Jesus never let the situation escalate. Jesus was a great Lifeguard!
Jesus is our spiritual lifeguard. Paul tells us, “For the wages of sin is death [Drowning], but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD [He reached out His hand and saved Peter from drowning].” (Rom. 6:23). Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God on His lifeguard tower watching over us as we swim through this perilous life. Peter, the drowning survivor says, “The LORD is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (II Peter 3:9). Jesus, our lifeguard wants to save ALL humanity! Peter personally had experience, as he had been rescued by Jesus the lifeguard.
Why should we ever remove our eyes from the goal of salvation in Jesus and lose faith? Why should we sink ourselves with doubt? We have the greatest lifeguard in all history watching over us! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish [Drown] but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).
Before the scream for help I was already on the move. The look of terror in her eyes is something that has stuck with me since 1975. She was beginning to go under and knew she needed salvation. For those who had urged the young teen to swim beyond her abilities, they too looked at the lifeguard wondering what I would do. The look of hope and anticipation in the eyes of the other teens also sticks in my mind. I wonder what the look was in the eyes of the other 11 disciples as Peter begged Jesus the lifeguard for mercy? I think I know, as I have seen the look.
The lifeguard got wet and the young teenage girl learned a valuable experience about not getting in over her head and to resist peer pressure. I lent her my hand and kept her from perishing that day. When we got back to the camp site it was the talk of everyone. The lifeguard had saved a life.
Let us make Jesus, our lifeguard, the talk of everyone as He reaches out to save our lives in this perilous sin filled world.
Jesus, our lifeguard!
Mike Wallace
