I
t is incredible how transfixed we are by valiant stories of rescue. Many movies like Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down fly to the forefront of our mind when we think of valiant rescues and rescue attempts. The more dire the situation the more valiant the rescue is in our eyes. Situations that seemingly have no hope, yet amidst all odds these rescues are made, but often not without a great deal of loss. Which leads me to the question, “is the notability of a rescue dependent on the cost of the sacrifice willing to make it happen?” To which my answer is, absolutely! The Bible says,” Greater love has no man than this, to lay down is life for his friends.” Unfortunately, many of us veterans have seen our brothers and sisters make this sacrifice and it is their blood that has fueled this nation, but why is this sacrifice, this rescuing of an individual the greatest love that we can perform? It is because it is the closest act of imitating our blessed Savior. To which points me to the most important question and one that is central to this time of year, Why did Christ come?
In John 10:10, Jesus says, “That he came to give life, and life abundantly.” If he came to give life then what was our state before his arrival? Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:1, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins.” Not pinned down by gunfire, not drowning in water, not merely captured, but dead. No situation could be more dire than this one. Which is why no rescue could be more valiant.
The glaring truth is that as a sinful person I am hopeless and I can do nothing about it. I am bound to sin, a slave of sin, judged and condemned by sin, and in desperate need of a Savior. Someone is going to have to ride in on his white steed, swim the moat, crash the gates, storm the castle of sin, fight his way up the spiral stone staircase, kick in the door to the top chamber where I have been confined, pry the shackles of guilt off my wrists and ankles, fight his way back down the staircase, one hand holding me while in the other his sword of truth flashing at lightning speed making short work of my foes, swim back across the moat with me in tow, leap to the back of his waiting steed, carry me into a new land of light and freedom where others who are his subjects care for my wounds and nurture me as my strength increases. Then in honor of him and what he has done for me, I become one of his subjects there to assist in the rescue and restoration of others as He rides into the darkness to liberate others.
Who is up to such an impossible rescue?
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. – Colossians 1:13-14
You see the law of God was not meant to save us from sin but to show us our sin and lead us to our Rescuer, the one and only Jesus Christ. We must realize the dire situation we are in, then humbly with a repentant heart, we need to do is look out the small window in the top of that castle of sin where we are bound, look out across the dark kingdom into the kingdom of light. There, just over the border, sits a warrior on His white Steed. His horse’s nostrils are flaring, the great mane swaying as he aggressively paws the earth, every muscle twitching longing to explode over the border. On his back sits an unmatched, undefeated Warrior, motionless in the saddle. His piercing eyes fixed on your window, waiting for you to lock eyes with Him, to call for Him to rescue you. When you do, immediately, while your cry is yet echoing off the stone walls of your prison, the sound of His steps will be outside your cell, your prison door will splinter and crumble before Him, and before you have taken your next breath you will be slipping off His steed into a new land of light and truth; free, forever, welcomed by those who have experienced the same rescue from His nail pierced hands.
Our rescuer and our savior has come, won’t you rejoice with me this Season!
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. – Luke 2:11
