Love Lifted Me

Matthew 14:25-30

I  remember when I was a kid we went swimming in the ocean at North Myrtle Beach. A big wave came in and I went under. When I came up I immediately reached out to my mama and latched on to her causing both of us to go under the next wave. Both of us was tired after the struggle. Every time I read about Peter walking on the water to Jesus and starting to sink, I think about that time at the beach. The major difference between my experience and Peter’s is that he didn’t pull Christ under, Christ pulled him out.

One of my favorite chapters in Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables is the one titled Billows and Shadows. It is a depiction of its main character Jean Valjean sinking in his despair as a prisoner of nineteen years set free. He describes his life as one who has fallen off of a ship into the depths of the ocean without anyone recognizing it. He is drowning and there is no one to save him. Death is ultimate and it’s last few moments are dreadful. It describes his life to a tee and at the end of the chapter it closes like this: “The soul going down stream in this gulf, may become a corpse. Who shall resuscitate it?” In Valjean case there was no one, but in ours there is one; Jesus Christ, the God who is there!

Hugo describes the lostness of man as one who is drowning. Just as Matthew gives this account of Peter walking on the water, the only one that can save a sinking  soul is none other than Jesus. What I find astonishing is that not only Jesus saw Peter in this storm, but he also heard Peter as well. With all the wind, waves, and noise Jesus was very aware of Peter’s sinking and crying out. The lesson is no matter how deep one may be in sin and despair, the Lord sees all and knows all and is willing to save to the uttermost those who call upon his name. All Peter had to do was look to Jesus and reach up to Jesus. That day I reached out to mama and we both nearly drowned. One day I reached up to Jesus and he pulled me out of my sin and despair. And he will do the same for all who call upon the name of the Lord!

It reminds me of an old hymn Love Lifted Me

I was sinking deep in sin

Far from the peaceful shore

Very deeply stained within

Sinking to rise no more

But the Master of the sea

Heard my despairing cry

From the waters lifted me

Now safe am I

Love lifted me

Love lifted me

When nothing else could help

Love lifted me

Because of God’s love in Christ, he hears the faintest voice and reaches down to the deepest depths to save them drowning in their sins. All man has to do is not reach out, but reach up!

“Behold, the LORD 's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:” (Isaiah 59:1)

Pastor Robby