This parable is not one I created, but it is one of my favorites. I imagine you will quickly catch on to the meaning of the parable of this life-saving station. As you read it, I also hope you will consider where you would fit into the story…
“On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur there was once a crude little life-saving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat, but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea, and with no thought for themselves, they went out day or night tirelessly searching for those lost at sea.
Many lives were saved by this wonderful little station, so that it became famous. Some of those who were saved, as well as some from surrounding areas, wanted to become associated with the station and give their time and money and effort for the support of its work. New boats were bought and new crews were trained. The little life-saving station grew.
As time went by some of the new members of the life-saving station were unhappy that the building was so crude and so poorly equipped. They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge of those pulled from the dangerous sea. So they replaced the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in an enlarged building. Now the life-saving station became a popular gathering place for its members, and they re-decorated it beautifully with comfortable furnishings.
Over time, Less & Less of the members were now interested in going to sea on life-saving missions, so they hired life boat crews to do this work. The mission of life-saving was still given lip-service but most were too busy or lacked the necessary commitment to take part in the life-saving activities personally.
About this time a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and the hired crews brought in boat loads of cold, wet, and half-drowned people. They were dirty and sick, and some of them looked different than most of the members, and some spoke a strange language, and the beautiful new club was considerably messed up. So the members immediately had a shower house built outside the main building where victims of shipwrecks could be cleaned up before coming inside.
At the next meeting of the members, there was a split in club membership. Most of the members wanted to stop the club’s life-saving activities as being too unpleasant and a hindrance to the normal day-to-day activities and patterns of the members who gathered there. But some members insisted that life-saving was their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called a “life-saving station.” But these few were finally voted down and told that if they wanted to save the lives of all the various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own life-saving station further down the coast. So they did.
As the years went by, the new station experienced the same changes that had occurred in the old. In time, they also evolved into a club and yet another life-saving station had to be established. If you visit that seacoast today you will find a number of exclusive clubs along that shore. Shipwrecks are still frequent in those waters, but I understand that now most of the shipwrecked people drown.”
So it is easy enough to realize that this parable is about the state of the church today. Now certainly it isn’t truly that gloomy! But at the same time we can see the different types of mentalities that are taking place in this story. The mentality of the rescuers who are dedicated to saving lives, a second mentality of those willing to give finances so others could serve but not a willingness to personally get their hands dirty, and a third mentality of wanting comfort and leisure for self even though people around are needing rescue.
What mentality do you have – are you one of the rescuers striving for the primary purpose, or are you hoping that things can stay safe and comfortable inside the cozy station? There are still so many people around us that are without the love of Jesus Christ. Have you looked out into the “water” around you and heard people crying out for a Savior?
I thought this exchange from Superman Returns was interesting…
Lois Lane states: “The world doesn’t need a savior, & neither do I.”
Superman asks her: “Lois, will you fly with me. There’s something I want to show you.”
[he flies Lois high above the city where it seems peaceful & still. Lois Lane listens, but to her ears, it is silent and calm.]
He then says to her – “Listen. What do you hear?”
She says: “Nothing.”
[and then for just a moment you get to hear what Superman hears with his super-powered hearing]
Superman then tells her: “I hear everything. You wrote that the world doesn’t need a savior, but I hear them crying for one everyday.”
Too many times I find myself and others thinking (and listening) like Lois Lane. We think everyone is OK and that there isn’t anyone around you looking for a savior. So many people say (& write) that we don’t need a Savior and yet Jesus hears them crying for Him everyday. Do you hear (and see) “nothing” when you look at our community? or have you allowed God to open your eyes to a world that is “crying out for a Savior.” They don’t need Superman, but they do need Jesus. And He tells us that the fields are ready to be harvested – We have been called to point people to THE Savior. Let us help people find the Living Water and be rescued by Jesus – let’s continue striving to be part of an effective life-saving station.