A man on a boogie board got caught in a rip current of off Flagler Beach, Florida.  The rip current kept pulling the man further and further from shore.  Lifeguards with Flagler Beach Ocean Rescue sprang into action to save the man.

One of the lifeguards swam out to the man and began towing him back to shore.  Because of the great distance from shore, three other lifeguards swam out to help.  The four lifeguards formed a human chain to tow the man to safety.

The rescue was caught on drone video by Joe Osborne who was taking a break from his work.  "I was actually kind of impressed," Osborne told FOX35 Orlando. "It was definitely a rehearsed thing ... with their buoys and their lines, and they use them in unison. Very impressive.”

The human “chain of help” was successful in saving this man from possible drowning. *

Our sins take us far from the “shore of safety” and separate us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2).  Unless we are rescued, we will not survive (Romans 6:23).

Even though we are rebellious sinners, God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to rescue us (John 3:16).  Jesus gave His life to save us from our sins.  He died on the cross for our sins so that we can receive forgiveness and the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

God will save from sin and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

It is God’s design that the Good News – the Gospel – that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again to accomplish our salvation, be shared by followers of Jesus to those who are lost in sin.  God’s plan is for Christians to form a “human chain” to reach out to the lost with the saving message of salvation in Jesus.

Using an analogy from agriculture, the Apostle Paul described the human “chain” of salvation saying, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6).  Paul “planted” the seed of God’s Word into the hearts of his listeners.  Later, Apollos “watered” the seeds that had been planted with additional teaching, until the hearts of the listeners received the word, placed their trust in Christ, and obeyed the Gospel.

Here are two encouragements: First, cling to the Savior for salvation through your trusting obedience.  Secondly, reach out to others with the saving message of Jesus.

“We have heard the joyful sound:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!”
-- Priscilla J. Owens

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from “Florida lifeguards form human chain to rescue boogie boarder, drone video shows” by Stephen Sorace of Fox News, www.foxnews.com.

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org