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"Blown
Away"
Kevin
Kearney is an experienced kite surfer. For those not
familiar with the sport, a kite surfer stands on a
small surfboard while harnessed to a sail.
When the wind catches the sail, the surfer is
pulled along the surface of the water at thrilling
speeds.
Kevin
Kearney must have been looking for the ultimate thrill
when he hitched up his equipment in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida on August 18, 2008.
He had heard Tropical Storm Fay was nearby.
He knew the wind speed was more than what he
normally dealt with, but he had safety releases that
would unleash him from the gear if the winds proved to
be too strong.
Someone
caught the attempt on video and it has been shown
around the world. Kevin was catapulted by Fay into the
sands of the beach, then lifted again and slammed into
the side of a building. It happened so quickly that he
didn't have time to release himself. He remembers
nothing of the ordeal. Doctors say that he's lucky to
be alive.
Kearney's
episode with Fay seems a perfect illustration of
Isaiah's description of sin: "But we are all like
an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like
filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our
iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away"
(Isaiah 64:6, NKJV). *
The
Tempter (Satan) would have us focus only on the thrill
of sin. But
make no mistake: sin is deadly and destructive!
The thrills ultimately lead to tragedy!
Unfortunately, we may not recognize this fact
until we are “caught up” in the sin and we can’t
seem to let go of it.
But
we CAN let go! And we CAN be spared the guilt and
destruction of sin!
Because Jesus Christ died on the cross, we can
be forgiven of our sins and freed from its GRIP...
He
will save those who: believe
in Him (Acts 16:30-31), “LET GO ” of
sin in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confess
Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized
(immersed) in His name for the forgiveness of sins
(Acts 2:38). He
will continue to aid those who continue to strive to
follow Him faithfully (1 John 1:7; Hebrews 2:17-18).
Tim
Hall says, “If you're thinking about kite surfing,
find a place where tropical storms and hurricanes
aren't. And if you don't want to be whisked away to
unknown, dangerous territory, steer clear of sin.”
None
of us has been able to do that perfectly.
But the GOOD NEWS is that we have a
Savior that can clear us of ALL sin (1 John 1:9) IF we
will trust and obey Him.
Won’t
YOU?
--
David
A. Sargent, Minister
Church
of Christ at Creekwood
1901
Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
*
From “Kite Surfing in a Hurricance” by Tim Hall, Column: “Heavenly
Connections” in Forthright Magazine -- http://www.forthright.net/heavenly_connections/kite_surfing_in_a_hurricane.html
Used by permission from Forthright Magazine (www.forthright.net).
Copyright 2008. Tim Hall,
author.
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