"THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO ME"
I suppose I was a bit gullible in thinking it would never happen to me. I had heard of fishermen falling out of boats and had witnessed it, but I never thought it would happen to me. Why? Well, it would never happen to me because I was always “careful” when fishing from a boat, and “paid attention” to what I was doing.
Then, two weeks ago, March 12, my middle son, Brock, and I were fishing on beautiful Pickwick Lake. We had not been fishing very long when I noticed that the back of our boat was about to make contact with a green, lake buoy (there are many of these in the lake). I leaned over the edge of the boat to push against the buoy so that the boat would not bump against it. I suppose I leaned over too much, lost my balance, and, you guessed it—down into the frigid water I went! I went all the way under the water, and then popped back up like a cork. It must have been a sight for my son to see. The cold water nearly took my breath away, but between gasps for air I managed to tell him to “pull me out.” He grabbed my arms and snatched me from the water, quickly pulling me over the side of the boat. No harm was done. I just had to wear wet clothes the rest of the afternoon.
I told this story to make a point: we never know what a day will bring! “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1). James wrote, “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:13-15).
It is for this reason that we should always be ready for death; ready to meet God; ready for judgment. It seems that everyone “plans” to make their lives right with God “someday.” Many have plans to “get started back to church” sometime. Many have plans to give up a sinful way of life. Many intend to give up drinking and adultery. Many have plans to obey the Gospel and to get involved in the work of the church. But planning it is not the same as doing it.
Notice this warning from Scripture: “To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts” (Hebrews 3:7-8). The only day we have is today, and “today is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2). Don’t put off making your life right with God.
For 47 years, I never fell out of a fishing boat. Things that we never dream will happen often do. Be ready!
