I still remember at least one line of poetry from high school. "Water, water everywhere." For lots of folks, that's not poetry right now. It's their town...their neighborhood...their house. The rivers are overflowing and backing up into every creek and stream they're connected to. It's a mess.
When my wife hears the word "flood," she feels something inside. Because the defining event for the town she grew up in was the flood that turned a quiet creek into a raging torrent. Those who lived it - like she did - will never forget it.
The saddest part of the story is the people who died. Because they didn't have to. As the flash floods cascaded from the mountains toward their town, rescuers came by in a boat to warn them and take them to safety. But they chose to ignore the warning. "We've been OK here for years. We're not leaving now." Their bodies were found days later, miles away.
God grieves over people like that. Actually, I do, too, People who've been warned that there's danger - even death - coming. People who have a rescuer at their door and who think they can make it on their own. And they die. When they could have lived. Forever.
God pleads with us - "I have set before you life and death...choose life" (Deuteronomy 30:19). That "life" is a Person. His Son. "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son" (1 John 5:11). The judgment of God for us hijacking our life from Him is racing our way - "God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing" (Ecclesiastes 12:14). But there's a rescuer at the door. Jesus.
He says, "I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in" (Revelation 3:20). He can take us to safety because He did all the dying for all of our sinning when He hung on that cross.
Maybe you've never realized that what Jesus did was for you. Or maybe you've heard His knocking more times than you can count. Either way, it's important - like eternally important - that you answer the door. And let Him save you. The Bible cries out, "Today, if your hear His voice, do not harden your heart" (Hebrews 4:7). The more times you've heard His voice - and done nothing - the harder your heart becomes. And that's the edge of an abyss no one should risk.
If you've never gotten into the boat with Jesus, I beg you to do that today. The flood is coming. You won't make it without Him.