Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– James H. Aughey
Repentance
If you feel like you’re in over your head, maybe God is telling you to repent from whatever it is you’re doing. God will sometimes bring me into the deep waters to make me examine myself and my life, and shows me where I am sinning. We all sin, but God doesn’t want us to stay there, so He might bring in the high tides of trouble to make us repent of our sins in order that we might confess them and be cleansed (1st John 1:9).
Dependence
They say confession is good for the soul, but it’s good for the conscience too, because when we confess our sins, all of the weight of those sins is lifted off our shoulders. It’s like we’ve got air under our feet. A clean and clear conscience produces joy in the heart because there is something about living a life that is pleasing to God. We know that when we please God, we are really living a more joyful life. Guilt weighs us down, but confession gives us joy!
Cleansing
Far too many unsaved people tell me, “When I get my life cleaned up, I will think about God,” but the problem is, we can’t clean ourselves up. If we try, we only get ourselves more corrupt, because God will not accept our works (Eph 2:9) since they are nothing but filthy rags to Him (Isaiah 64:6), so instead of bringing us into the deep waters of life to drown us, God has brought us to them so that we might be cleansed, and that only comes with the precious blood of the Lamb of God.
Conclusion
When James H. Aughey said, “God brings men into deep waters not to drown them, but to cleanse them,” he was saying a lot because sometimes God will bring us into the deep waters to break our pride and bring us to repentance. Then He allows the overwhelming flood so that we might confess our sins and release our guilt, and have our joy again. Finally, God cleanses those who cannot clean up their own lives, so God brings us into deep waters, not to drown us, but to cleanse us. All glory to You oh God!
