
The trip started off uneventfully. They visited Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Jerusalem and on the fourth day in country they laid their eyes on the Dead Sea. It was beautiful from the hillside with its blue green water and the shoreline made white from the salt deposits.
Several members of the tour group decided to walk along the shore and look at this mysterious body of water from different vantage points. The shore was a mixture of smooth beach and craggy rocks and traversing the rocky parts was fraught with potential for a misstep. As fate would have it, the gentleman on his special trip slipped on a rock in an outcrop and fell into the sea.
Hitting the water he quickly realized that it was quite deep and he panicked. Since he couldn't swim he panicked and started thrashing about hoping it would keep him afloat. In response to his screams for help the group guide, also a minister of the faith, came to the edge of the rocks and calmly told him to stop thrashing and he would be okay.
"Just stop thrashing and relax. The density of the water will hold you up and you will float", the minister yelled to the screaming man.
The man took no heed and continued to thrash until, alas, exhaustion finally took hold. He thought that he was going to die but he resigned himself to his fate and stopped his activity. He expected to sink and drown but, surprisingly, his body actually rose when he stopped the needless action and he began to float, just like the young minister said.
As he climbed out of the water and sat on a rock to rest, the young minister approached him with a smile and said, "Why didn't you listen to me? Do you think I would have stood by and let you drown? This is the Dead Sea, with its high salt content it would be nearly impossible for you to drown."
The man looked at him with embarrassment on his face and said, "I guess my faith needs some work. I have to learn to trust more."
This nice man learned a lesson that day. He needed to trust the minister who came to his aid, faith in Christ requires total trust in Him. Just like that young minister would have not let him drown, Christ will never let you down. He is always there for those who keep the faith. Remember that always and live for Him.
Have a wonderful day.