One of the most popular places in Memphis is Tom Lee Park, a beautiful open space alongside the mighty Mississippi. If you have lingered there long enough to read the plaque, you know that the park was named for an African-American man named Tom Lee.

One day in 1925, a steamer with lots of passengers aboard sank in the river, just below Memphis. Tom Lee saw the tragedy. He jumped into his small boat and with great courage and determination headed toward those drowning people. He rescued 32 people of them.

But let's suppose that when Tom Lee approached some of those folks in the middle of the river, they had responded, "Thanks, but no thanks. Your boat doesn't look too impressive to us. We're going to just keep treading water in hopes that another boat more to our liking will come along." You're thinking - That would have been really dumb. Turning down a sure thing in hopes that something else might come along.

That reminds me of the people who don't want to accept the salvation offered by Jesus Christ through the cross. They hope that some other alternative, more to their liking, will become available. But the truth is that there is no other way to be saved.