GOOD NEWS!
You can't drown . . . if your head is above water!
This title may seem foolish to you at first, but consider how many people there are in this world who feel they are about to go under. Perhaps you are one of them. If so, I have "Good News" to report to you.
You can't drown if your head is above water. For the purpose of this article the "water" could be any problem or trial that seems to be overflowing your life and that makes you feel that you are going under. The Bible has something to say about your situation as you will see in the following paragraphs.
This entire presentation of truth is based on the scriptural teaching that Christ is the "Head," and we are to be in the relationship of being part of the body. The local church is the manifestation of His body on earth, and you should be an active part of that visible body of believers if you claim Christ as your Saviour.
Eph. 1:19-23 says, "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly. places, far above all principality and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. HE IS THE HEAD! HE IS ABOVE ALL THINGS! You cannot drown if your head is above water.
This is one of the glorious truths about the Lord's church. It is indestructible. In Matt. 16: 18. Jesus said, "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Down through the centuries many have said the institution of the church was going under. Unbelievers have been predicting the demise of the church from the beginning of the institution. She has been inundated with persecution and at times submerged it seemed with indifference and worldliness and you would think she would be floating "belly up" by now, but instead she is alive and healthy, and giving birth to new believers. Some think the church is like a submarine; they seem to be holding their breath wondering if she will survive. She will. You can't drown if your head is above water.
That which is true of the church as an institution can be true of you if you are in the right relationship with Christ as your Head. You may feel you are about to go under in some way. Christ is your answer. You can't drown if your Head is above water. You may feel that you are going under in one of the following ways:
I. FINANCIALLY
You may say, "I'm broke!" Well, He's rich. He owns the cattle on the thousand hills. You may be in the red, but He is in the black. You can't drown if your head is above water. When we look at someone like Job in the Old Testament, we think he was amphibious the way he seemed to survive no matter what came his way, but it wasn't that. Job had a relationship with the Lord that saw him through.
As you face your problems financially, remember that as a Christian you are rich. II Cor. 8:9 says, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty might be rich." You are a joint heir with Christ. You have a mansion in glory waiting for you. Aren't you glad the IRS doesn't tax all your assets?
II. PHYSICALLY
You may feel that you are going under physically. When they looked at Stephen as he was dying after being stoned in Acts, chapter seven, they probably said to themselves, "He's going under", but in reality he wasn't "going under". In fact, he was "going over". The Bible says in verse 55 and 56, But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God."
Death is a terrible thing. It is described in scripture as an enemy. It has a sting. Satan says when a believer dies, "He's going under." But they do not go under. They "go over". You can't drown if your head is above water. Satan surely thinks, "This thing called death ought to work. It will next time. This one's going under." But once again (we're speaking here of believers), they do not go under. Instead, they go over.
III. SPIRITUALLY
Since the Bible says in Romans 3:23 that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God," it is true that in the spiritual sense all men have made "shipwreck" and are going under. In effect, every sinner is buried beneath a load of sin with no way out, with no way to even get a breath. The lifeline is salvation. You can't drown if your head is above water. If you accept Christ as your Saviour, then spiritually He becomes your Head. You can't drown if your head is above water.
Even as human beings we will come speedily to the aid of any part of our body. You cannot put the tip of my little toe in fire without every part of my being coming to its rescue. You may feel you are only "a little toe," but friend, you are secure. The Head (Christ) will come to your rescue once you have accepted him as your Savior. You can't drown if your head is above water.
If you haven't already received Christ as your Savior, why not do so today?
© 1985 Ben Shepherd
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