Imagine we are all children of God sitting on a beach. All devoted to God and resting on the sand with him. We are enjoying his words. We listen to the sound of the ocean in the background. The sun warms us as we sit and lay beside the Father.
But in the distance out at sea someone is drowning. They are waving their arms and yelling as much as they can as the waves crash over them. They are lost and almost past the point of return. They do not see us on the shore and cannot tell which way to swim. The rip currents around them are too much and they are about to lose their life.
Jesus sees the lost soul and extends his hand toward them, and they are raised up and he holds them up in the water so they can breathe and asks for us to swim out and bring them into the shore so they can be saved. He could think it and they would be sitting on the shore but they have to desire to be saved. To say yes to his love and help finding their way through the waves. Through their life really.
And it is always about us deciding who we will follow. Who we will trust with our life. Who we put all our hope in. And so, the drowning person who is of course the one drowning in this world of distraction and deceit, has to do their part and choose.
And the challenge is often when we sin, we often don’t realize we are like a person drowning at sea. But we won’t see it until it is too late. So there is much rejoicing in heaven when one person sees the world for what it is and finally sees Jesus with hands raised for us to come to him. Like the prodigal sons father, he runs to hold us if we will just look his way and say yes Jesus please save me.
And we too have our part in the life of others. We are here to go bring others to Jesus Christ. To find them where they are and show them Jesus standing, extended arms, ready to embrace them.
The embrace of Jesus Christ is unlike anything else we can experience. For we reach that embrace usually through our own lost at sea story where we finally understand what the world offers and what Jesus offers and finally after much struggle we say yes. So, his embrace is all encompassing and brings with it the truth of our life so it is bittersweet and we are humbled on our knees as much as we are lifted up in joy.
When we finally see someone we live turn toward him and finally see the truth of our world and God, it is joyous and awesome and deepens our own faith and love for God.
We are on this journey together. All people. Everyone is finding their way, and we are to love others with a brotherly love and show them the love Jesus gave us.
The veil of the world is lifting, and more and more people are finding their way to truth and seeking Jesus Christ. It’s a fantastic time. But it is also a time the evil one is fighting harder than ever to recruit and separate followers of Christ. We stay on track by loving all people no matter where we find them and working with Christ to bring every single person we can to the light and truth of Jesus Christ.
The beach is warm and soft and very comfortable. And with Jesus beside us it is amazing. But we have a job to do and need to brush the sand out of our pants and go bring in others so they too can know that there is a kingdom of God. here and now. filled with joy and peace and the embrace of Jesus Christ.
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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