Three Boats And A Helicopter

Herman and Nancy lived in a nice suburban two story house. Herman was a deacon in their church and Nancy was the unofficial head of hospitality. They even had the Jesus fish stuck to the back of the Oldsmobile. By all accounts Herman and Nancy were very godly people living a very godly life...maybe even a perfect life. Perfect until the big storm hit and the town flooded.

As the flood warnings continued to pour over the TV, Nancy wondered aloud if they should head for higher ground but Herman's reply was "We don't need to leave. God will take care of us." The next morning it was still raining and now there was too much water to even get downstairs, so they headed up to the roof to survey the area. As they were taking it all in, Sheriff Tom pulled up in a boat and urged them to come with him. Herman's reply was "We don't need to leave. God will take care of us." Two hours later, with it still raining and the water still rising, two deputies came by and again urged Herman and Nancy to come with them. Herman's reply was a familiar one..."We don't need to leave. God will take care of us." With the water continuing to rise, Joe from church pulled up to the house's roof and pleaded with our daring couple to abandon ship and come with him. He even told them he had reserved an extra room at the hotel across town for them where it would be safe, but Herman again calmly stated that God would be their shield. He might even have quoted scripture at this point, but that has never been confirmed.

Finally, as dark started to settle and with very little of the roof now visible above the flood waters, a Coast Guard helicopter came over the horizon and straight up to what had been Herman and Nancy's beautiful house just hours prior. The copter pilot announced through the bullhorn for them to grab onto the men being lowered to save them. Herman almost barked this time, "WE DON'T NEED HELP. GOD WILL SAVE US!!!"

As Nancy woke Herman up, the first thing he noticed was that they weren't on the roof any longer. As he began to really look around he realized they were in Heaven. Even as he was thinking to himself "I was just sure God was going to save us from the flood. What could have happened?", he heard God speaking. God's response was a simple one. "I sent you three boats and a helicopter."

How often do we insist on refusing the help of those who would offer it to us and insist that God will take care of us when what is really happening is God is taking care of us through those that we care most about? I know for me those times in my life have been a simple matter of my pride getting in the way of my obedience to God...and the consequences haven't ever been good. In my story, Herman and Nancy got to Heaven. In real life, we usually have far less fulfilling consequences to deal with following our little bouts of pride, don't we? When trouble is on the rise and God sends you help, take it!