Rescue

Destruction is all around us. We hear of recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. Thousands, upon thousands have perished. Teams from all over the world have been hard at work trying to save lives and bring aide to victims. It seems that the news is filled each night with heart-wrenching stories of survivors.

Today, I read a devotional about rescue. It related a story of a young boy who was walking along a beach. On the shore hundreds of starfish had beached themselves and were dying in the brilliant sunlight. The boy started throwing the starfish back into the ocean. Soon a passerby called to the young boy, and asked, “What are you doing?”

“I’m saving their lives,” he replied.

The man then said, “Why are you wasting your time? You can’t possibly save them all!”

“I know that,” the boy answered. “But it makes a very big difference to all of the ones that are saved!”

The devotional went on to say that we are so like the starfish. Sin has washed us ashore to perish. But, Jesus , like the young man in the story, picks each one of us up and gives us a new chance at life.

How many times has He rescued us? He died for our sins over two thousand years ago. He paid the ultimate price that we could live eternally. Yet, He is always right there beside us, calmly picking us up from shores of despair and human frailty, rescuing us once again.

He is our Savior. And, all we have to do to have Him save us, is to call on His Wonderful Name. Now, that is a miracle! He is there for us, always. Can you say this about any other?

Have you been rescued by the Man from Galilee? Have you called on Him today? Luke 15:7 says “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance”.

Can you imagine all the angels in Heaven rejoicing because a lost one has been rescued? What a magnificent image! It is true! I know because Christ said so. His words are unfailing.

In these days of devastation in diverse places, and wars and rumors of wars all around us, we are in need of rescue. Morals and ethics are rapidly becoming obsolete. Would-be followers have turned from the God of their forefathers to pursue “feel-good” religion; a religion born of self, not God. And, there are still those to whom the gospel has not been preached. We need a great revival; a revival of the heart and of the spirit. We are a people in need of resuscitation…of rescue.

There is only one who can revive our sin-filled lives. Through His grace, we can face an eternity of tomorrows. Won’t you ask Him to rescue you today?

Word count: 484

(This short story was inspired by a devotional from “Our Daily Bread”, March 8, 2010.)