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
Yes, it’s true. The rumors you’ve heard are accurate. It’s not some internet conspiracy theory or lie that someone made up to scam you. There was a day, actually it was the three summers of high school that I was a lifeguard. Let me give you a minute or two to catch your breath and to compose yourself. Now that you’ve stopped laughing it is true. I sat in the lifeguard chairs at Baltimore Country Club for the summers of 1969, 1970, and 1971.
While there, other than turning the color of a steamed lobster for the summer, I watch people from morning to night. I watched as they jumped, dove, swam, and just played around in the water. It was a great time of life and a terrific job. But twice I had to go into the water to help someone. They got into trouble and dove in after them. I didn’t need to grab them and pull them to safety. I got close just in case they needed extra help.
Funny thing about the people I went into the water for. They all made it out okay and stayed out to rest for a while. But guess what they did? Do you think they stayed out for the rest of the day? The rest of the week? The rest of the summer?
Oh no. They went right back in. They jumped in and swam all over that pool. They dove headfirst off the diving boards like nothing had ever happened. They went right back and started doing the very thing that got them in trouble. They restarted doing what had almost killed them. You see, my kind of rescuing could only help them for a minute. It never changed them on the inside. It didn’t save them from future actions that could lead to danger. Destruction. Death.
That’s why, when it comes to rescuing us as broken people, God has to do it all. We couldn’t rescue ourselves. We didn’t rescue ourselves. He had to do it. And he didn’t just do part of it, he did it all. Period. There’s no more to be done. It’s complete and we’re completely rescued. We’re now safe. We’re delivered from the hands of the enemy. But how does God rescue? What did he do to make us rescued?
He pulled us to himself. We were far away, and he brought us close. Not just from a foreign country and dropped us in some neighborhood. Oh no. When God brings us close, he brings us right up into his arms. We’re moved from being far away to being really close[1]. He moves us from being his enemy[2] and put into his everlasting arms[3].
In Jesus, God comes as the mighty conqueror over sin and death[4]. Hie eternal, mighty arm saves us from Satan. From all our enemies. From our sin. From death. From hell. From eternal separation from God himself. And from ourselves.
When God rescued us, he doesn’t rescue like we do it. When we rescue someone, they can need it again. And again. And again. But when God rescues, he does it once and for all. When God rescues, it’s done. It’s over. There’s no more rescuing to do when it comes to our eternal relationship with God our Heavenly Father.
Remember that the disciples are rowing across the Sea of Galilee, and they get caught in a storm[5]. Jesus agrees with Peter’s request to walk out on the water to him. Everything’s good for a while, but then Peter “saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me![6].”
And what does Jesus do? Does he tell Peter to start kicking? Does Jesus send him a text with a video that shows him how to swim? Does Jesus give him a three-point message about how to be rescued? No Jesus personally reached out and caught Peter.
That’s the way God rescues. When God saves, he redeems all of us. He buys us back once-and-for-all for himself. We are completely made new in Jesus. He makes us into children of God. Gives us a new identity. A new name.
It’s like the really great scene from The Chosen, where Jesus rescues Peter[7]. Not only does Jesus start the reaching, but he also starts pulling Peter up. It’s Jesus who first puts his arms around Peter. It’s Jesus who starts putting Peter back in the boat.
And what’s Peter’s reaction? He’s humbled and thankful more than he’s ever been before. He knows that the only reason there’s still life in his body is because of who Jesus is and what he’s done for him.
This is exactly where God wants you and me. He wants us reaching out to Jesus. He wants us looking at Jesus. He wans us to be held tight in Jesus’ arms. He wants our weak arms around Jesus. Because when we’re with Jesus like this, we know that all our sins have been forgiven. And we can now walk in newness of life in him[8]. Now, that’s being rescued!
Noodling Questions
Explain how it makes you feel to be rescued by God.
How do you believe that all your sins are totally forgiven?
Describe the deepest pit that God has rescued you out of.
[1] Ephesians 2:13
[2] Romans 5:10
[3] Deuteronomy 33:27
[4] 1 Corinthians 15:57
[5] Matthew 14:22-24
[6] Matthew 14:28-30
[8] Romans 6:4 ESV