Save Me from the Flood
There once was a man who believed in God. He had a home in a small town and he prayed everyday. One day it started to rain, and rain. It rained so much and so hard that the town began to flood, all of the man’s neighbors began to pack up their stuff, and the man began to pray. He prayed for God to save him.
As the man’s house began to fill with water he moved to higher ground in his loft, and he prayed for God to save him.
Not too much later his neighbor rowed over in a boat and pleaded for the man to leave his house and get in the boat. However, the man refused to leave his home. He said, “I have been praying, and I have faith that God will save me.” So his neighbor left.
Soon the water began to fill the loft, so the man moved to higher ground on his roof and he prayed for God to save him.
Not too much later, he saw a raft floating near by. The people in the raft begged him to join them, so that they may find safety together. Again the man refused to leave his home. He said, “I have been praying, and I have faith that God will save me.” So the people left.
Soon the water began to cover the rooftop, and the man had no place left to go, so he prayed and he prayed. Suddenly he heard a helicopter, and saw a long rope ladder in front of him. “Grab on someone yelled, we will save you!” But again the man refused. He said, “I have been praying, and I have faith that God will save me.”
Well needless to say that stubborn man drowned.
When he reached heaven he was very disappointed with God. He asked “Father I just can’t understand, I prayed and prayed, and I had constant faith in you. Why didn’t you save me?” The Lord replied, “My child, I sent you a boat, a raft, and even a helicopter. I tried to save you, it was you who refused to be saved.”
So, next time someone sticks out their hand to help you—grab it, and hang on—it just might be an answer to prayer!
Saved from the Fire
Just in case your hut is on fire...
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect Him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost.
He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?"
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
The Moral of This Story: It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering.
Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.
