Rescue Boats

This joke has made the rounds on the emails many times but I hope to rouse your thoughts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A preacher finds himself caught in a tremendous rainstorm. Within a few hours, the motel he's staying in is flooded. As the water rises, the he climbs to the roof and starts praying, “Lord save me.”A few minutes later a coast guard rescue party floats by in a rowboat. "Let's go, mister, into the boat." "No, thank you” says the preacher. "The Lord will save me."

An hour later, a second boat reaches the motel. "Sir, you better get in. The water is still rising." "No thanks," says the preacher. "The Lord is my salvation."

Toward evening, the motel is almost completely under water, and the preacher is clinging to the satellite dish on the roof. Another rescue boat pulls up, “Hey buddy, get in the boat! This is your last chance." "I'm all right," says the preacher, looking toward heaven. I KNOW the Lord will provide."

As the boat departs, the satellite dish is hit by lightning, and the preacher is killed. When he arrives at the Pearly Gates, he is upset."What happened, Lord?" cried the praying man. "I thought you would save me!"

Within seconds, a thunderous reply is heard: "Hey! I sent you three boats!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One has to wonder how many rescue boats have been sent that were not recognized as sent help from the Lord. Think about it. What would you think or do if you saw such things as a 'crazed' looking man coming out of the desert dressed weird and crying “repent”? How about seeing a woman in public crying over someone’s feet, kissing the feet and wiping the tears with her hair, or, how about the ‘ol mud in the eye’ to remove blindness? Luke 7:31-35 - John 9:6-7

The Lord is very creative in the way He answers us. Don't be too quick to dismiss what may be your 'rescue boat'. Simply put:

• Noah built a boat which no one had ever built before (Genesis 6 & 7).
• Rahab had to tie a red cord in her house (Joshua 6).
• Joshua had to march around Jericho seven days and a few other things (Joshua 6).
• Moses' mother had to put Moses in the reeds by the Nile River where crocodiles lived (Exodus 2).
• Moses lead a people into the desert and to a strange new land (Exodus 3).
• Ruth left her own family, country and gleaned a field for food (Ruth).
• Hannah gave up her son, Samuel, to the Lord (1 Samuel 1).
• David had to slay a giant (1 Samuel 17).
• Elijah had to ask a widow woman for her last meal - (1 Kings 17).
• Mary pregnant with Jesus (Luke 1:30-38).
• Joseph took care of pregnant Mary (Matthew 1:20).
• Disciples left all to follow Jesus (Matthew 19:27).
• Diseased woman presses through the crowd to touch the hem of Jesus' garment (Mark 5).
• Zacchaeus, the tax collector gives half his possession to the poor (Luke 19:1-10).
• Jesus goes to the cross (Matthew 27)

Yes, the Lord is very creative when it comes to 'rescue boats'. Keep your eyes open, mate and don't miss the boat.