Thin Ice Or Thick

Read Acts 16:25-32

Patrick couldn’t believe his ears when Grandpa pulled out some photos and began to tell the family about his recent fishing trip to Minnesota. “You mean you really drove right out on the ice, Grandpa?” he asked in disbelief.

“Yes, indeed,” Grandpa replied. “I drove out on it, camped on it, and fished through a hole in it.”

“But you always warn me about walking on the river in the winter!” exclaimed Patrick.

“That’s true,” admitted Grandpa. “When your father was your age, he nearly died because he trusted the ice on the river. But I was in no danger. The difference between the lake and the river was the thickness of the ice.” He hesitated and tugged at his beard.

Patrick’s father laughed. “Go ahead, Dad,” he told Grandpa. “It’s obvious that you want to say something about our spiritual lives.”

Grandpa chuckled. “Well, now that you mention it, it does remind me of our walk with Christ,” he said. “Patrick, no matter how much faith your father had in the river ice, it would not hold him up. On the other hand, even if I had been scared to step onto the lake ice, it still would have supported me because, in spite of my feelings, it was thick and strong.”

Patrick nodded thoughtfully.

“Our feelings are not so important as what we trust in. Some people feel very good about themselves. They feel sure that their church membership or the good things they do will get them to heaven. But those things are like thin ice—they won’t hold. Other people know they’re sinners. But they also know that God says he loves them and that Jesus died to save them, so they put their trust in him. Jesus is like the thick, strong ice. When your trust is in him, you’re safe.”

“Even though sometimes I hardly feel like a Christian?” asked Patrick. “Like . . . maybe when I’ve done something wrong. But God says I am one because I’ve accepted Jesus as my Savior, right?”

“Exactly!” agreed Grandpa. “Your faith may be weak, but Jesus is strong and always supports and keeps you.”

How about you?

Are you trusting in Jesus? Don’t trust the “thin ice”—the good things you can do. Trust in Jesus and what he has done for you. If your faith is in him, you’re safe—even though that faith may sometimes be weak. If you haven’t done so before, won’t you trust him today?

Memorize:

“Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31