A Flying Boat

A Flying Boat

Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.

Matthew 14:29

General Ioannis Metaxas, dictator of Greece from 1936 until his death in 1941, once traveled to a Mediterranean air base to do a formal inspection. While there, he was invited to try out a flying boat. Excited to experience the new technology, he decided to pilot it himself.

Everything went well until the commander, the dictator’s host, noticed that they were about to make a landing on the regular runway.

“Excuse me, General, but it would be better to come down on the sea—this is a flying boat.”

“Of course, Commander. What was I thinking?” said Metaxas, suddenly collecting himself. He proceeded then to make a safe landing on the water.

Rising from the wheel, the general said, “Commander, I greatly appreciate the tact with which you drew my attention to the incredible blunder I nearly made.” Saying that, he opened the door—and stepped into the sea.

Like the general, another impetuous man once stepped out of a boat and onto the sea. His name was Peter. We often criticize Peter for eventually sinking because his faith weakened. But I sometimes think we judge Peter too harshly, because the Bible records that he walked on top of the water almost all the way to Jesus.

That’s amazing! I think I would have sunk on the first step. I can’t imagine actually walking on water for even a few steps. But Peter did. Then he took his eyes off the Savior, saw the storm raging around him, and sank like the “rock” he was. Who wouldn’t?

We all “sink” at times, but if we know the Savior, he will always be there to reach down and save us. All we have to do is call out to him, and he will rescue us.

Heavenly Father, we need you to save us, because without you we will surely drown in the sea of our sins. Keep us close to you, Lord. Amen.