A Drawning Man Is Saved!
By John Hendrix
The following news reports were collected concerning an event on Lake Lotsawater near the town of the same name. Notice how contradictory they are.
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FISHERMAN SAVES DROWNING MAN
(United Media Syndicate) Lake Lotsawater: A local fisherman, "Cat" Chesfish, saved a drowning man on the Lake today while many on the bank looked on. The man who nearly drowned, Henry Gasp, was badly shaken after the rescue. "Cat really saved me," said Henry. "If he hadn't thrown me that line, I'd have been a goner for sure."
Gasp had foolishly gone out on the lake in a row boat without a life preserver or the ability to swim. He accidentally turned the boat over and immediately started flailing about and shouting for help. Cat's quick response was all that could have saved Henry.
DROWNING MAN RESCUED
(Associated Presses, Inc.) Lake Lotsawater: A man who was drowning managed to save himself by grabbing on to a float that had been thrown to him.
One witness said the following: "Old Henry Gasp [the man drowning] was about to go down for the last time when he finally saw and grabbed hold of the float that had been thrown to him by Mr. Chesfish. It's a real good thing that he kept enough presence of mind to grab the float. Grabbing that float was his only hope."
Luckily, Henry Gasp was not harmed in the incident, though he did get pretty wet.
FLOAT AND LINE WAS DROWNING MAN'S ONLY HOPE
(United Press Services) Lake Lotsawater: Mr. Henry Gasp, a resident of Lake Lotsawater, thought that he was going to have a relaxing outing on a row boat this morning. Things did not turn out so relaxing, however. While moving about in the boat, Henry managed to tip it over. Since he was not wearing a life vest and did not know how to swim, he immediately started drowning.
He would be at the funeral home tonight if "Cat" Chesfish had not been fishing nearby. The "life-saver" Cat through Henry kept him afloat while Cat used the line to haul Henry to safety.
This near-disaster was avoided only because Cat, like all good boaters, had the right safety equipment handy. No other means of rescue was available.
DROWNING MAN PULLS HIMSELF OUT OF WATER
(Associate United Syndicated) Lake Lotsawater: A simple row-boat outing turned into a harrowing ordeal for Henry Gasp when he tipped over his boat. Since the foolhardy man could not swim and did not wear a life-preserver, he very nearly drowned.
A local fisherman, "Cat" Chesfish, threw poor Henry a line and float. Henry grabbed the float and held on desperately while Cat pulled him to the edge of the boat. The horrible experience did not end, however, until the exhausted and sputtering Henry grabbed hold of the ladder of Mr. Chesfish's boat, pulled himself up and out of the water.
One witness imagined even worse things: "Henry still would have drowned if he had of accidentally fallen out of Cat's boat."
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It is hard to imagine how four reporters could report on the same event and come up with such contradictory stories. About the only thing they seemed to agree on was that Henry nearly drowned. Not one report agreed on how he was saved.
The first report said that "Cat" Chesfish saved Mr. Gasp. Only the goodwill of Cat could be credited for saving Henry.
The second report gave Henry the credit for not drowning. Henry managed to save himself by grabbing hold of the float. Which was it? Did Cat save him or did Henry save himself?
Now report three credits the line and float for saving Henry's life. How could such simple objects save a man's life?
Then report number four confused the story even more by saying that Henry wasn't saved until he climbed up the ladder. What gives?
And if that weren't enough, the fourth report also suggested that Henry still might have drowned if he had of fallen out of the Cat's boat.
So when was he saved? When Cat threw Henry the float? When Henry grabbed on to the float? After Henry held on to the float while being pulled in? When he climbed on board the boat? Or when he finally got off Cat's boat at the dock?
How could such simple reports paint such a confusing picture?
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I know that the story of the drowning man is an old saw, but it is still a good illustration. It shows how we should read and understand what the Bible says concerning our own salvation.
One passage teaches us that salvation is God's gift: that is, grace (Romans 3:24). Another says that salvation is through God's grace and our faith (Ephesians 2:8). Another passage stresses repentance (Acts 11:18). Another speaks of repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38). Still another speaks only of baptism which works "by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21). Then we are reminded, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)
There is no contradiction. Each passage simply highlights one or more important and necessary aspect of salvation. For the same reason the four reports of the drowning man do not contradict each other. I think we all saw through those "contradictions" immediately.
The only answer for us is to believe and obey the whole gospel. Having put our faith in God, we trust in His mercy and grace to save us because we are willing to do all that He commands.
Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)