The Citizen, 1986-12-03, Page 25From the Minister's Study THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1986. PAGE 25.
God sent Jesus on a rescue operation
BY REV. G. T. SHUTTLEWORTH
KNOX UNITED CHURCH,
AUBURN
Advent, the season that we have
now entered, is God’s way of
saying that this is the way to
salvation. The shepherds in the
fields were among the first to hear
the message brought by the
angels. They went as fast as they
could. And there, lying in a
manger, they saw him: their
saviour.
Being saved implies a condition.
A situation of danger in which a
person finds him/herself. Rescue
also implies a risk on the part of the
rescuer. If there were no risk, the
person in danger wouldn’t be
helpless and would be able to
rescue himself. What is our
condition and situation that com-
pells God to begin his rescue
operation at what we call Christ
mas? Why do we need to be
rescued?
Isaiah wrote, “All we like sheep
have gone astray; we have turned,
everyone, to his own way.’’ (Isa.
53:6) These comments on life were
written over 2700 years ago and
could have been written for today.
Human nature doesn’t seem to
change.
Jesus referred to all people as
beinglost. Many parables were
confined with our condition of
being lost such as, the prodigal
son, the lost sheep, and the lost
coin. “The Son of Man came to
seek and to save the lost’’ (Lk.
19:10) were the words of Jesus.
Many people feel lost in their
everyday living. Lost in the
complexities that our own hands
have helped tocreate. We have
brought into existence so many
gadgets and control systems, we
wonder who is controlling whom.
Some people are lost in the
reasons for their existence. Dad
comes home from work with the
remains of his paycheque. Mom
plops down with a big sigh after the
kids have been put to bed.
Together they either ask, “What’s
the use ?’’ or try to forget all abou t it
drowning their sorrows in alcohol
or drugs.
We are not so much lost because
we have forgotten where we are,
but who we are. We feel nameless.
Just another face in the crowd.
Others don’t help the situation
when they give us numbers to use
instead of our names. A student
number. An employee number. A
Social Insurance number. A credit
card number. I heard a nurse say to
another that she had to give “123“
abath. Our personality is being
raped and we feel helpless to stop
it.
Too often we hear of disasters
that have buried people alive.
Rescue squads work hours on end
trying to save those who are still
alive. But time runs out. The
rescue operation slows down when
little hope is left that anyone would
still be alive. Desperate and
unnecessary risks aren’t taken to
resuce the dead. There is nothing
to save when the person is already
dead.
But this is exactly what God’s
rescue operation involved. Christ
came to die for you and me. He
came to give his life for a world
dead to sin. Although He died for
the dead, it wasn’t a lost cause by
any means. In His death were the
seeds of resurrection and new life
for Him and the whole world.
We are the lost, and we have
been found; forgiven, redeemed,
and restored. Paul said it best,
“The death he died, he died to sin
once for all; but the life he lives, he
lives to God.” (Rom. 6:10) Then he
says in the next verse, “In the same
way, count yourself dead to sin but
alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
This is a saved world and we are a
saved people if we have turned to
ourLord, Christ Jesus. The lost
have been saved from sin. Christ
has bridged the gap that had
separated us from the Father. The
only barriers that now exist are the
ones that we ourselves have
erected.
The events of Christmas, as well
Retired employees organize
James Lee has been elected
president of the newly-formed
Wingham and District Hospital
Retired Employees Association.
Mr. Lee was elected during the
association’s organizational meet
ing earlier this month. Others
elected to the executive include:
i Blyth Christian
® Reformed Church
HIGHWAY4, BLYTH
Rev. Roger Gelwicks
Worship Services 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Sunday School 11:00a.m.
TheChurchof the “Back to God Hour” and “Faith 20”
Back to God Hour 10:30a.m. CKNX, Sunday
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ALL VISITORS WELCOME
as Easter, would have still happen
ed if you were the only person on
earth. This is how very much God
loves each and every individual. As
we approach Christmas let us
remember its truths and God’s
good work of forgiveness that has
begun in you and me, opening new
possibilities for our lives.
Mrs. Lloyd Ellacott, vice-presi
dent; Mrs. John Donaldson, secre
tary; Mrs. Margaret McVittie,
treasurer.
Visiting, telephone, lunch and
program committees were also
appointed at the meeting.
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