“Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold…I am worn out calling for help… Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love… answer me quickly, for I am in trouble…” (Psalm 69:1-3a, 16-17 NIV).
I’m sinking in quicksand, and my attempts to free myself only make me sink deeper. I cry out for help, again and again, but no one responds, no one comes to save me. I’m losing all hope.
I hear a gentle rustling, and hope springs up within me. Jesus himself emerges into the clearing, and I recognize the One I’ve heard about, the Strong One. “I’m saved!” I cry out. He holds out his hand to me and urges me to grab it and hold on.
Slowly, slowly I make progress toward the shore. My Rescuer is strong, but it’s hard to keep holding on for so long. My arms grow weary and weak at times, and I begin to doubt that I’ll ever reach solid land. I have continually to remind myself of the quicksand’s ability to entrap me once again if I ever let go. When I feel myself getting discouraged, I cry out to him, and I find – to my surprise – that his very own strength makes me strong again and able to persevere. It seems that I only have to ask; to keep my eyes on him, not on the muck all around me or the distance to the shore.
We humans, tainted by sin and disabled by our race’s inheritance from the Fall, sink so easily into the quicksand of sin and become entrapped by it. The magnetic allure of money, power, sex and fame are often hard to resist. And the world’s and the devil’s promises of happiness and fulfillment make it all seem so good and look so safe. But before we know it, we’re up to our necks in bad habits we can’t break, bad relationships that drive us far from God, and bad circumstances from which we can’t easily extricate ourselves. We’re stuck fast. We need Someone to pull us out.
My part is to hold on for dear life, for it is indeed my very life which is at stake. Jesus says, “Abide in me… for without me you can do nothing…” Only by clinging to him will I ever be pulled to safety and reach solid ground. Then, indeed, will I be saved forever. Not only saved from destruction, but satiated with perfect goodness, justice, beauty and love. My Rescuer awaits me, holding out his arms in welcome.
He will never let go of my hand; I must never let go of his.
Lessons From Love School 