Day 9 – Rescue

"Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Galatians 2:1-2

Several years ago, Hollywood released an action movie starring Chris O’ Donnell called Vertical Limit. The basic premise of the movie is that a brother (O’ Donnell) and his sister (Robin Tunney) become estranged because of a mountain climbing accident early in the movie that claims the life of their father. Years later, their relationship is put to the test when Tunney’s character is leading a party of climbers and they become trapped in a vertical cave at the top of the second highest mountain in the world, K2. If they are not rescued soon, they will die of dehydration and the dropping temperatures. O’ Donnell must fight through his own guilt and shame over the loss of his father and lead an expedition to save his sister’s life. One of the climactic scenes of the movie is where Chris O’ Donnell, after losing several members of his team, arrives at the edge of a large precipice. He is not far from where his sister is located, but the gap is too vast to cross and he is left with only one real logical choice – give up on his sister and go home. But he doesn’t choose logic. O’ Donnell marches back 50 feet, turns back to the cliff, situates his ice picks in his hands and runs as fast as he can towards the cliff.

He jumps!

In what feels like forever, he spans the gorge, descending along the way until he reaches the other cliff and digs his picks into the side of the icy mountain, barely keeping himself from falling to his death. He then climbs the face of the mountain and reaches his sister and her party just in time to save them from certain death.

Why would he do that? Everyone would understand if he just turned around and went home. The distance is too great. The potential cost is too high. What if he were die in the process of trying to rescue his sister?

But that’s not what family does. True family goes to the cliff and jumps.

And that’s what the body of Christ does!

Churches in America are literally filled with people who, for one reason or another, have found themselves in a cave of sin and rebellion against God and are on the verge of being spiritually dehydrated and cold towards their Creator. It could be that couple we know who are having problems in their marriage. Or the person we work with who is struggling with integrity issues. Or the friend who blatantly walks away from his commitment to Christ. And too many of us are standing on the precipice watching them slowly become cold and indifferent to spiritual things. As we think about it logically, we decide that it would be rude of us to interfere with their decisions. Surely they will contact us if they really need help. It would take too much time away from my schedule and my family. And after all, with all of our baggage, who are we to try to tell them what to do.

But in the passage above, Paul is urging us toward a different response. He is asking if there is a brother or sister in Christ standing at the edge of this cliff who is willing to jump across to save the souls of their wounded family members. Is there anyone spiritual, not perfect, who is willing to leap out into the gap, to climb the mountain of adversity and to gently restore those of our spiritual family who are hurting and broken? Cautious, so that we won’t fall into the same trap, but willing to do whatever it takes to save them. To bear their burdens and the issues and struggles that they are going through so that they do not have to bear them alone. And ultimately to do for someone else what Jesus has done for us – risk everything to bridge the gap.

There is someone around you who needs rescuing. Will you take the leap?

As you pray today, allow the following to stimulate your dialogue with God.
Thank God that He has sent His Son to bridge the gap that was between you and Him.
Thank God for the people in your life who were willing to step out of their comfort zones and help bring you into relationship with Christ.
Ask God for a heart for those who are falling away from Him either through their circumstances or their own conscious decisions.
Ask God to give you the courage to not just watch them walk away, but to take a leap of faith and go after them.
Ask God for words to say and, more importantly, for an ear to listen and a shoulder to help carry their burdens.
Ask God to help you guard your heart as you pursue those who are falling away so that you don’t fall into temptation along the way.