The Intruder

 Our financial secretary walked into my office today with surprising news. She informed me we had an intruder came into the main secretary's office. Somehow a bird got in there. We contemplated different plans on how to get the bird out. We settled on turning off all the lights in the officer and opening the door for the bird to find its way outside. It was our first and less intrusive option. We hoped it would work. 

I thought for a moment what if we went in trying to coax the bird to go through open doors. That did not seem like a fail proof plan. We probably would have scared the bird and got it even more disoriented to its surroundings. In our attempts to help, we most likely would have only made things worse causing the bird to panic. 

I thought for a moment if I was only a bird or at least could speak bird chirping so it would know we only wanted to help. I could have communicated that we just wanted to help the bird find freedom again. My inability to communicate with the bird only complicated matters. We depended on the bird's natural instincts to find the way of freedom. 

God tried repeatedly to communicate with humanity through history. He set up the law to reveal His righteous standards. 613 of them to be exact. No human could ever live up to that. People failed over and over again. God seemed so far removed. Too remote to relate to finite human beings. God sent help in the form of Jesus taking on humanity while remaining fully God at the same time. People can relate with Jesus. He was also tempted like us and yet without sin. His sacrificial death was the price redemption required. His resurrection sealed the deal. Jesus ate, slept, worked, sweat, and on at least one occasion even cried. He was born as a baby, though He existed before creation. He also died. He experienced pain and suffering. He understands us. 

God took the ultimate step to communicate His love to humanity. Jn 3:16 sums it up for us. God on His own initiative, sent His only Son, Jesus, because He loves us. Any person who believes in Him will not perish but be gifted with everlasting life. What a deal. It is too good to pass up, and yet many do pass it up over and over again until it is too late. Even though God proved His love. See Romans 5:8-9. Jesus shows us the way to the Father. There is no other way except through Jesus. John 14:6. Thank you Jesus for showing us the way. 

The Lifeguard

 Lifeguards are trained aquatic professionals who oversee swimming areas like pools, waterparks, oceans, and lakes. They are in the prevention business of keeping swimmers safe. They are constantly scanning swimmers to see if anyone gets into trouble and if so the lifeguard springs into action. A good lifeguard is always on high alert when on duty. They search for distressed swimmers and do not wait to be invited to help when they spot trouble. 

Jesus is like a lifeguard. Constantly scanning society and ready to rescue distressed and dispirited people who get themselves into trouble. I was in trouble as a teenager. I was an angry teenager, the by products of physical and sexual abuse as a child. I wanted to be a good person, but down deep in my heart I was not good. My private life was a trainwreck. I dabbled in things that were destroying me. I was drowning in sin. Jesus saved me. He rescued me from the sewage of sin that pulled me under. 

He is always on search and rescue missions with people all over the world. I am forever grateful on a Thursday night in October of 1983, when He came after me throwing the life preservers of grace, mercy, and salvation. There is a popular song where some of the lyrics identify Jesus as our rescue story. He certainly is mine. I am also eternally thankful that He did not give up on me. He could have walked away from me thousands of times. He persevered. His love persisted. His grace prevailed. 

In a few minutes, we will invite little children to our VBS. I want Jesus to rescue them like He did for me. To save them from the sin and shame I endured as a child and teenager. I want Him to save those drowning in dysfunctional homes like I survived. I want Him to do more than rescue children. I want Him also to rescue moms and dads transforming whole families. That's what Jesus does because like a lifeguard, He is always scanning and searching for those who need a rescue story.