THE GREATEST RESCUE STORY
"Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them." Genesis 3:21.
Unbelievable! These guys had just rebelled against God. Instead of leaving them to bear the consequences of their rebellion, He clothed them. God looked down on Adam and Eve with compassion and covered their shame! "For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Romans 10:11. Jesus Christ our Redeemer was publicly disgraced, despised, rejected, and crucified for our freedom from shame.
"18 So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt." Exodus 13:18.
In the days of Joseph, Egypt was a place of refuge and abundance for the children of Israel. But centuries after his death, the people are brutally enslaved and oppressed and by the Egyptians. They cried out to God and He heard them! God sent Moses to rescue them from Egypt. Moses went to Pharaoh to tell him to let Israel go. Pharaoh would not listen. So God sent terrible plagues upon the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh would not let them go. The last plague the Lord sent was by far the worst. He sent the angel of death to kill the firstborn child of every family and the firstborn of every animal in Egypt. God love the children of Israel so much that He was willing to remove any impediment to their rescue. During the night, Pharaoh summoned Moses and told him to leave Egypt with the children of Israel. Finally the Egyptians captivity was broken and Israel were on their way home. Through Jesus Christ, God also delivers us from bondage and sin into a new reality of life in abundance.
"Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation." Genesis 7:1.
The inhabitants of the world in the days of Noah sinned greatly, and God warned them of an impending judgment. Those who would repent of their sins were invited to board the Noah's ark. But after many years of warning, the only people who stepped in were Noah and his family. Though there were rooms for many more people in the ark, but only eight were rescued. Redemption was offered to all. Sadly, few accepted the offer.
"22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry." Luke 15:22-24.
A rich man had two sons. One day the younger son went to his father, asked for his inheritance and left home. He went into a far country! After a time he ran out of money. The younger man had spent it all on self-indulgence. Because of a famine in that land he was in an even more desperate situation. Eventually he decided that it would be better to return to the house of his father. On approaching home, he was met by his father who had been watching and waiting for his return. A great feast was made for him. His father gave him a robe and a ring as well. Though he had gone astray, he was restored. God also wants to restore you; come to Him today. Isaiah 53:6. Despite all the pain we've inflicted on Him, He stands ready and willing to accept us as His children. "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." Luke 15:7. God's calling you to be a part of His family today. He's ready to accept and forgive you, no matter what you've done. Don’t wait till it’s too late.
"11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. 12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish." Matthew 18:10-14.
A sheep apart from its shepherd is in grave danger. Jesus will seek far and wide to bring us back home to Him.
"This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day." John 6:39.
The Lord is intent upon rescuing the sinner not only because the Father gave them to Him but also because He loves them. The love Jesus has for us led Him to surrender His life on the Cross to take our punishment for sin.
As High Priest and Mediator, He continues to bear our needs and infirmities before the Father. “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:24-25. God's still reaching out to rescue sinners and backsliders.
"19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. 20 He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions." Psalm 107:19-20.
Are you at a place in your life where you need to be rescued? Are you ready to call out for help? Have you been praying for God to save you from a painful situation? It could be a relationship problem, a financial crisis, a health issue, or anything else that's giving you sleepless nights. God is able to rescue you! The Almighty God, who delivered Daniel from the lions den, Israel from the bondage of Egypt, and Lazarus from the land of the dead, promises to deliver and rescue you. "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him." Psalm 91:15. But, what if, God doesn’t rescue? Will you still trust Him? Maybe your faith in God is wavering in the midst of a crisis that leaves you wondering where is He and why He hasn’t rescued you. But the truth is, genuine faith waits on God and accepts His outcome, no matter the consequences. You can trust Him to deliver you when you're in trouble, but if He doesn’t, He is still the Lord.
"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:17.
But, the most amazing and incredible story of rescue is when the Lord Jesus rescued us on the Cross. Its the greatest rescue story! Despite our shortcomings and our tendencies to sin, God loves us unconditionally. So much so that He sent His Son to rescue us from condemnation, darkness and eternal separation. Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we could be saved. His death made us right with God. Will you let Him be your hero? The gift of reconciliation and eternity in Heaven is free to all who will receive Jesus Christ and believe Him.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO RESCUE?
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
The word rescue means to help someone or something out of a dangerous, harmful, or unpleasant situation. It is an act of saving, freeing or taking from legal custody by force. To rescue is to set free from captivity or slavery. It means “to buy out.” The synonyms of rescue is freedom, deliverance, liberation, salvation, ransom, extrication, release, and redemption. Redemption is the means of ransoming a slave from an abusive slave-owner. This is what Christ’s redemption secured for sinners. As sinners we're slaves to its power. But our faith in Christ buy us back to God. We now have eternal life, forgiveness, righteousness, freedom from the curse of the law, adoption into God’s family, freedom from bondage, peace with God and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. To be rescued, then, is to be saved, sanctified and justified. We are rescued; no more slaves to sin.
Sin brought about sickness, suffering, tears, problem, disease, disaster, and death. And the only way out of sin is salvation. Salvation is God’s rescue plan! Salvation means deliverance and freedom from the power of sin. Salvation is the restoration of life that was long lost during the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. So why not come to the Lord today and be rescued? Admit you're a sinner. Confess your sins to the Lord. Repent. Believe the Lord. Ask for forgiveness. Invite Jesus into your heart and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour. Keep growing as you develop a deeper, personal relationship with God. Join a living Bible church. Engage in regular prayer and Bible reading. Go deeper in the things of God. Build on you faith. Don't give up, no matter the temptation. Stand strong and firm to the end! There are rewards awaiting you, if you endure to the end. Live with eternity in view. "5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:5-8.
WHAT'S YOUR STORY?
"19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled." Mark 5:19-20.
We're all called to share the stories of how we came to Jesus. "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;" 1 Peter 3:15. To tell others about Christ is to witness for Him; it does not require special training. We may not yet know a lot of the Bible, but we can speak of what He did for us. You don't need to be an orator, a public speaker, a gifted writer, a veteran author, a blogger, a pastor, a Bible Study Teacher, or a scholar to share your story. Your story may be the crucial bridge for sinners and backsliders coming to the Lord and growing in the Spirit. To share your story is to tell of the faithfulness of God. Its your story of struggles and conquests, failures and successes. The stories about how God has worked in the past helps you to encourage others who may be going through something similar now. Sharing the stories of your rescue strengthens you and the people listening. Take a minute to think about where you are right now and appreciate all of the things God has done for you. Then ask for opportunities to share your story and the Gospel with others.
“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.” Proverb 24:11. God has called us to rescue those who are perishing! We’re to lift up those who have become discouraged and to bring back those who have wandered from the Lord. He didn’t save us so that we can go to Heaven alone; God saved us so that we can help others get there. Every soul is precious in the sight of God! There is a deadline! Tomorrow may be too late! Don’t waste the opportunities. The Holy Spirit can put us in the best place to minister to those who needs rescuing. How sad it would be if you stayed put and didn't share the grace and love of God with them. So step up and speak up. When you've helped a person in coming to faith in Christ, you still need to help them to grow spiritually. 1 Peter 2:2. In order to grow, you need to nurture and care for them. This means encouraging the person to read the Bible and pray regularly. Encourage them to find a living Bible church May the Lord Jesus fill you with His love as you pray for others and begin to witness for Jesus today.
"13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:13-14.
Without Jesus, we are lost and in deep darkness. If you have not trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, now is a perfect time to do so. With Jesus we have hope for eternity. Say this prayer from your heart: “Lord God, I come to You today. I know I’m a sinner and I cannot save myself. I acknowledge that I am a sinner who needs Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the Cross to save me and He resurrected on the third day. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to Him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I’m saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Father, I thank You for Your faithfulness and trust, in Jesus name.
2. No matter how things seem, I will put my hope and trust in You, O Lord.
3. Dear Father, give me compassion for those around me, in Jesus name.
4. O Lord, grant me Your strength to share with others around me, in Jesus name.
5. Father, I thank You for always standing by my side in all circumstances, in Jesus name.
