The rains came, and the river began to rise. Authorities watched as the rain continued high in the mountains and carefully calculated the river level.

It became evident that many people would be displaced by the flood. The sheriff was sent out to the several homes to warn the people to get out of the area. Floods was sure to endanger their homes.

Old Charley Brown lived along the low lands alongside the river. The sheriff stopped at his house and informed him that the waters would flood his home within another day. Old Charley was a very religious person, and told the sheriff that God would save him.

As the water rose and filled the flood plain it flooded right up to Charley's door. Some of the men in town took a boat and paddled out to Charley's house. They told Charley that the water was expected to rise much more, and that he ought to get out. Charley refused to go with them saying only that he knew God would save him.

By the next morning the water had risen to the point where only the roof of Charley's house could be seen. Charley had climbed to the roof and was sitting straddle of the eve. The sheriff sent a helicopter out to pluck Charley to safety. Again he refused, and said that he had faith that God would save him.

Finally the rush of the flood washed Charley's house down stream, and Charley was killed. He was a very faithful man, and on his arrival at the Pearly Gates, he was disappointed that God had not saved him from the flood's rage.

"God", he said, "I had faith in you, and you let me down. Why did you not save me?"

"Charley", the Lord said, "I sent a car, boat and a helicopter to take you away from the flood, but you would not go. What else can I do?"