Great Love

Sometimes it can be hard to find reasons to serve God. We have this New Testament Love which lets us know everything is alright or at least going to be. Sometimes we need a little fuel to help us realize the prize we have been purchased with. This is a little story with a big impact a professor told me a few years back:

Back in the day when I was young and still in shape I worked on a farm with a group of friends. We were down south and the days were humid and hot. Mosquitoes bit hard and sweating never cooled you off.

After one of these dreadful days of summer we all decided to pack together in the tail end of an old blue Chevy and head a lake about eight miles away. When we arrived we did it old school, stripped to our skibbies and ran for it. It was a full blown race to a dock a little ways out. All of us were focused on the win but I especially was winning. I arrived at the dock first and in triumph I stood upon my platform.

As the rest of the guys began to drag in we looked back to see what distance we had covered o' so quickly only to see our buddy chuck splashing, gulping, and well... drowning. Chuck was known to be a kidder and a sore loser, so we thought he might have been pulling a leg. Soon it became evident he wasn't. We dove in to the rescue and never had we swam so fast. We pulled him up to the lake front and help was arriving; one of the neighbors must have heard the commotion and called, thank God.

Once revived Chuck looked around and said "where's Don, he was right there with me?" We continued to look and did not find him. We assumed the event was a bit overwhelming for him and he took a walk or something. We weren't going to ditch him in the middle of the country so while waiting we went back swimming. Not long after we entered the water and Hank stepped on something awkward. It was Don's leg. Don drowned right in that spot not long before. He was standing on the bottom of the lake, arms lifted up, holding our good friend Chuck up so he wouldn't drown. Don ended up losing his life in an effort to save a friend.

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13. This very picture is one of Christ. Jesus too died in an effort to save us. The image of the saving Christ suffering with arms nailed is ours to hold. Jesus did not die in vain. After all this was done for us, what can we do in return. We should remember this each day to help us realize a plan and purpose for our lives, the Love He has for us, and to encourage action.

God Bless.