(I dont remember where I heard this, but I dont think it was in church…)
During a particularly wet winter, flood waters rise so high in one
town that the national guard evacuates all the residents. One man
stays behind, however, and when the water is waist-high, two national
guardsmen in a boat motor past his house, checking for people left
behind.
Were evacuating the town because of the flood! Jump in the boat
and well carry you to safety!
But the man says, No, dont bother; Ive led a pious life, and the
Lord will save me.
The men in the boat shrug their shoulders and motor away. Later,
when the water level has driven the man onto his roof, another boat
appears.
Havent you heard the town has been evacuated? Come on, well save
you!
But the man sends them away again, saying No, no, the Lord will save
me!
The water level keeps rising until the man is standing on his chimney
and barely keeping his head above water, and a helicopter, doing a
final check, appears overhead. It drops a rope, and the loudspeaker
says, Grab the rope and well bring you to safety!
But the man waves the helicopter away, once again saying, No, the
Lord will save me!
But the water level keeps rising, and he drowns.
When he gets to heaven, he is completely bewildered. He asks God,
God, why didnt you save me?
And God says, Well, I sent you two boats and a helicopter.