For the past few posts, I have been been talking about being rescued from our fallen humanity.
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12
Although it sounds hopeless, if we continue reading, we see that there is HOPE.
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Romans 5:19
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
The cross was our rescue plan.
His death, His burial, and His resurrection were our lifesaver.
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NLT
Jesus put it all out on the line, so we wouldn’t have to. In the Old Testament, there are many typologies of things that were to come one day and be fulfilled through Christ.
One of those typologies was Egypt, where God’s people were in slavery, representing the bondage of sin.
God called Moses (a type of Christ) to be the deliverer to them, or to rescue them and bring them out of their current state.
Once they left Egypt (their sin), they went through the Red Sea (a type of baptism) and headed to the promise (new life).
I want you to look what Moses said to the children of Israel.
“Remember that the Lord rescued you from the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt in order to make you his very own people and his special possession, which is what you are today.” Deuteronomy 4:20 NLT
I believe he said this because it is easy to forget where God brought you from.
In this particular scripture, He was warning them against idolatry (worshipping idols).
Many times, when things got tough for the Israelites, they complained that life had been better in Egypt (a type of the world).
Don’t allow tough times to draw you back into your old life. Don’t allow anything to draw you back to where God has already rescued you from. It’s a trap, and it won’t end.
Parable of the Lost Son
“To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.” Luke 15:11-12 NLT
This shows that God gives us all a free will to do whatever we want. If you want to leave God, He is not going to force you to stay. If you want to head back to the place that you have already been rescued from, He is not going to hold you back.
“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.” Luke 15:13-15 NLT
This is where we see this lost son begin to take on water. We see him begin to drown in his wrong decisions. We see in the next few verses his call out to be rescued.
“The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!
I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” Luke 15:16-24 NLT
If you have left God, He has been ready and hoping for your return. If you have ever left God and come back, you can testify of His love and compassion when you returned to him.
Look at the son’s attitude; this is key in coming back.
His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.
And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.” Luke 15:19-24 NLT
When souls are rescued, there is a party. When souls come back from being away, there is a party we should throw! Why? Because heaven rejoices over the ONE that repents!
TODAY, He is looking for the ONE to repent.
TODAY, He is looking for the ONE that will decide to be baptized.
TODAY, He is looking for the ONE that will possess the promise of the Holy Ghost.
MAKE IT YOUR RESCUE STORY TODAY.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
