Photo by Neil Thomas on Unsplash

Dear Friends in Christ,

Eighteen years ago, stories of searching and rescuing began pouring out of New York City and Washington D.C. as brave men and women selflessly responded to cries for help from those trapped in the fallen Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Men like Jason Thomas and Dave Karnes rushed to the scene saying, “Somebody needed help!” So, they went in search of those in need.  Among those they rescued were William Jimeno and John McLoughlin, Port Authority police officers hiding safely in the South Tower freight elevator before the tower collapsed, leaving them buried. Because Thomas and Karnes actively searched out survivors, these two were found and rescued from almost certain death.

Ever since Adam and Eve fell into sin and tried to hide from God, God’s been on a “search and rescue” mission to save His people from sin and death. Through His prophet Ezekiel, God cries out to His people, “Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out … I will rescue them.” (Ezekiel 34:11-12) The acts of searching and rescuing are “active.” God doesn’t sit back and wait, He actively goes out … seeking high and low, searching far and wide … to find His people. But His action doesn’t end there. Once He finds, He rescues. Again, through Ezekiel, God says, “I will bring them into their own land.” (Ezekiel 34:13) These words are fulfilled when Jesus, the Son of God, comes down from heaven into creation. God Himself enters into the world He created to search out and rescue His fallen people.

Knowing we’re hopelessly and helplessly trapped under the debris of our sin and the sin of a fallen world; Jesus goes out into the world to find us. The Pharisees and scribes complain aloud, “This man (Jesus) receives sinners and eats with them!” (Luke 15:2) Imagine that! Jesus, the pure and perfect Man-God, goes to where sinners are … He finds them … He sits in their presence … He shares meals with them. But, His purpose in going out to find and come into the presence of sinners isn’t to simply have a good time. Powerless to save ourselves, Jesus’ mission is to dig us out from underneath the rubble of sin that has buried us alive, leaving us for dead.

By His death and resurrection, He lifts the refuse and clears the debris from our sin-filled lives away. Then, like a shepherd, He lays us on His shoulders and carries us joyfully back to His flock, His church, where we dwell with Him now in this place … and, one day, in the eternal kingdom of heaven. By His action of searching and rescuing alone, we are saved.

Today Jesus is still searching for and rescuing the lost. How? St. Paul writes, “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me … Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:16) He saves us, so He might save others through the work He calls us to do in His creation. Let us rejoice with Paul and the angels of God for this amazing privilege God has granted to each of us.

                                                                        In Christ’s Love,

                                                                        Pastor Jim