Lifeguard on Duty

Posted by Richard Harris | | Posted On Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 2:18 PM

If you go swimming at a hotel you will more than likely see this very visible sign near the pool, “No Lifeguard on Duty.” This sign is very self explanatory; it means you are on you own while swimming. If something happens then there will be no professional life guard there to help you out. Basically and I have seen this sign as well, ‘swim at your own risk.”

I am sure in the lawsuit happy world in which we live in that this sign is a must. Not to mention that it at least gives you the warning that if you are using the pool you might need to take some precautions like making sure you do not swim alone. If you’re a parent it lets you know that you need to keep a better than normal eye on the kids because if something does go wrong you will have to take charge of the scene.

Of course for the hotel the best thing about the sign is that it takes them totally off the hook in regards to something happening at the pool. They don’t have to pay anyone to watch the pool and you are forewarned as a customer that if you swim you do so at your own risk.

I remember when I was a child swimming at the hotel my grandfather managed that there were lifeguards on duty. My parents could take it easy because there was someone watching us kids. When the lifeguards where there, we could swim, when they were not the pool was closed it was as simple as that. It was a good system but that was another time and day.

Not having a lifeguard on duty to watch people and to take care of them if an accident occurs to save some money seems kind of cold to me. Thankfully our God does not operate that way. As far as He is concerned your life is always important and the good news is that He is always on guard.

We operate in a risky world filled with danger. Many times we do not even know what risk might be out there. Isn’t it good to know that you have a God that cares for you and does not simply say, “hey your born now live the rest of your life at your own risk!”

For an unfortunate amount of people they choose to live a life that denies God and His care. They think they are better off on their own and can take care of themselves just fine without any help from God. They look around the pool of life and for some reason don’t even see the “lifeguard” on duty. When accidents happen they simply try to handle them on their own and choose to keep the lifeguard on the stand. Or worse than that go to people who have no spiritual clue on how to handle life.

That would be like you swimming at the beach and finding yourself over your head and instead of calling on the lifeguard on duty to help you out you allow me to swim out to you. I can barely swim and have no skills in how to safe your life. More than likely we would both end up in jeopardy, making the trouble worse instead of better.

It may not seem like it all the time but God is always on duty. He knows your ever move before you make it. You, yes you, are very important to God. He always has your best interest at heart. You are His priority. God has all the power of the universe at his disposal to help you in your time of need. You need only call His name and he will throw out the life preserver because isn’t that what He is all about anyway, preserving the life He created?

The very name Lifeguard implies that someone is guarding your life that is good to know while you are swimming but it is even better to know that in a life filled with risk, danger and heartache that there is always a Life guard on duty, God.

Scripture: Psalm 91:1-2, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, with nothing but thanks giving we praise your name that you care for us enough to walk with us each day and to lead us to green pastures, to rescue us from harm and danger and to love us even though we fail you often. Thank you Lord for being such a loving God, In Christ Name, Amen.

all simple/truths are written by richard harris

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