A Great Rescue | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: A Great Rescue | Previous Challenge Entry
By Edmond Ng
09/09/14
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Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 NAS)
When a child riding a bicycle was attacked by a neighbor's dog, his family cat ran to the rescue by hurling itself on the dog and chasing it off. This incident was caught on surveillance cameras and took place at Bakersfield in California on May 13, 2014. Four-year-old Jeremy sustained various bite marks which required stitches. The dog identified as an eight-month-old Labrador and Chow mix was reportedly surrendered by its owners to the police and was later put down. For its heroic deed, the cat was honored with the ceremonial first pitch at a minor league baseball game.

The story of the cat risking its life to save Jeremy was reported in the local and overseas news. Another story far greater than this of God becoming man and giving His life to save us all is found in the Bible. Surely, such good news deserves much more global coverage. For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though perhaps for a good person someone might dare to die, but God demonstrates His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends (Romans 5:7-8; John 15:13).

Not all dogs are of course like the dog that bit Jeremy or all cats like the cat that saves the day. The decision to pursue the right or wrong path is entirely our own. Nevertheless, it is not doing good or bad that decides our eternity. For by grace we have been saved through faith and this is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so no one may boast. God did not send His Son, Jesus, into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16-17).

Whether to follow Jesus is our choice. But when the day comes for Him to sit on His glorious throne, He will separate the ones who are true to Him and those who are not of Him. Like the cat that received honor for doing good, those true to Him shall be blessed and inherit the kingdom. But like the dog that was put down for wrongdoing, those not of Him who continue to dwell in sin will face the eternal fire (Matthew 25:31-46).

Are we certain or in doubt of our eternity? Are we assuming we can earn our salvation through good works? Are we thinking to ourselves we are not that bad to warrant severe punishment?

The epistle to the Romans makes it clear that all have sin and the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. If we confess with our mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in our heart God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved (Romans 3:23; 6:23; 10:9-10).

This is the testimony that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (1 John 5:11-12; John 14:6).

If we have received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, rest assured our eternity is secured, for God has given us eternal life through His Son. Rather than be put down for our wrongdoings, therefore, choose to be honored for saving others by bringing them to Jesus and continue to walk in Him all the rest of the days of our lives (Colossians 2:6).

Dear Lord, thank You for laying down Your life to save us even while we were yet sinners. We know no amount of good works we do is good enough to save us or to earn our salvation, for You alone are the way, the truth, and the life. Forgive us and cleanse us from all our sins and iniquities. Grant us Your free gift of salvation as we confess with our heart and mouth You are our Lord and Savior in whom we have eternal life.

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