Rescue.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Rescue. I couldn’t stop watching Fox News last night. After 68 (69 now) days of being trapped 2000+ feet below ground in a mine, the Chilean miners are finally being rescued. I couldn’t peel my eyes from the screen as we waited for that first miner to top ground in the tiny “rescue pod” that was being raised and lowered through the tunnel that led down to where they were trapped. When he did make it up, I joined people all over the world in shedding a tear (or two…or a hundred) at the sheer joy of knowing he was safety top-side. 1 miner up, 33 to go. And so the rest of them await their rescue…
The mine is a desolate place. As they described it last night on the news, I just couldn’t help but think about how depressing a place it sounds like. No sunlight at all, total separation from family/friends, limited food rations, and every moment living with the possibility of total mine collapse. That doesn’t sound like a place I’d want to spend even one moment, let alone 2+ months. Yet there they are – trying to make the best of a horrific situation.
Throughout the Word, sin is equated with darkness. God’s Words says time and time again that sin brings with it separation from God, and a darkness that even the miners trapped below ground can’t fathom. And whether we like it or not, we are born into that sin. Every single man, woman, boy, and girl born to this world since Adam, except Jesus Christ Himself, has been born a sinner. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) So there we are – wrapped up in sin’s darkness, without hope, desolate, and headed for an eternal destination called hell…a place more infinitely terrible than our minds can fathom. But look back almost 2,000 years to a hillside…
On that hillside is a little group of crosses. And on that center cross hangs an innocent man named Jesus. He’s never done anything to anyone. He’s never broken a crime in man’s law or God’s. He’s pure, holy, just, righteous. Yet for these few moments, he’s a murderer, a thief, a rapist, a pedophile, a liar, a cheat. For these few moments He’s carrying the weight of every sin every committed. For these few moments, He’s the sacrificial lamb, sent to pay the world’s sin debt with His blood, spilled out on that cross. And for these few moments, God the Father turns His back on Him, because He can’t look upon sin.
And with these words, “It is finished,” He gives up His ghost, seals the payment for our sin, and dies. And in that moment – “Our sin, oh the bliss, of this glorious thought! Our sin not in part but the whole – is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh my soul!” Because of those moments it was possible for me, at the age of 14, to fall on my face and ask God for forgiveness of my sin and a relationship with Him. And so can you.
You see, you’re trapped in a mine. And collapse is coming, only it won’t just last a short time – it’ll last forever. And the place you’re headed? Horrible. Today He offers you rescue through what He did on the cross so long ago. And all you have to do is accept it by asking Him to forgive your sin and be your Savior and Lord.
Your rescue pod has arrived…will you get inside?

That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
Blake

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