In the United States, approximately 4,000 people die each year due to drowning. That’s over 10 people each day who die in a large part because they forgot to wear one single piece of equipment: a life jacket.
As someone who has lived in an area that is surrounded by lakes pretty much everywhere you go, a life jacket is a common item that nearly everyone in Minnesota has worn at least once, but for those who do not know what a life jacket is, they are basically a vest that is filled with a bouyant material which when put on will prevent a person from sinking in the water.
Which brings me to our passage today, in which the Apostle Peter quite literally began to sink in the sea. The disciples had gotten into a boat and were traveling across the sea, when a great storm began, and made the sea very boisterous.
Matthew 14:24-32 “But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.”
So you see, Peter had seen Jesus walking on the water, and he himself had gone out to walk to the Lord, but upon seeing the raging seas he began to be filled with fear, and began to sink. He began to doubt and lose faith. He didn’t put on his “life jacket” of faith, and that is why he sank.
Faith is something that we need to be filled with, and always remember to keep with us at all times. Faith in Jesus means that we completely place our trust in the Lord that He will take care of us and protect us, and that He will keep His promises.
Jesus IS coming again. He IS preparing a place for us to be with Him someday. He WILL forgive you of your sins if you come to Him for that forgiveness. These are all promises that are found in the Bible, and we need to be filled with faith and believe His word.
The end is nearing, and the day of the Lord is getting nearer every day. However, more and more people will begin to fall away from the faith of Christ, as Jesus said in Luke 18:8, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
People are going to be steadily forgetting to put on their “life jacket of faith” and will fall away from the truth. They will instead begin to listen to lies and fables, giving themselves over to “science” and will reject the scriptures.
We need to have complete faith and trust in Christ to take care of us and help us in our time of need. We need to put on our life jackets of faith, and with them we will never sink.
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 