Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”
A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org

Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High will remain in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “{You are} my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” He is the one who will rescue you from hunters’ traps and from deadly plagues. _{Psalms 91:1-3 (GW)}

’FX’ airs a program named ’Rescue Me’, a drama about life in a fictional New York City fire station. Each member has their own demons to deal with and the plot line includes the messed up lives of the players, who themselves, need to be rescued from the fires of temptation. Each actor’s shortcomings are ever present as this televised drama unfolds each week. ’Rescue Me’ cries volumes to the world as a testimony to people who give themselves to helping others, but are then unable to help themselves.

All of us at one time or another need to be rescued from the fires of life. Whether it is the need to be rescued from depression, drug addiction, harmful relationships, emotional distress, physical disease or suffering, poverty, homelessness, brokenness or any number of other things from which we need a helping hand. It is comforting to know that help is only a 911 call away.

Once the call comes in, the rescue personnel, although burdened by their own problems, rush to the aid of their fellow man. Reaching out a helping hand to others, many times, helps us forget, or perhaps get through, our own shortcomings. It is by doing for others that we are actually doing for ourselves. We can not reach out a helping hand to someone, without giving our own souls a lift as well. However, that feeling of accomplishment is only short lived, and once we are no longer needed to rescue someone else, we fall right back into the pit of hopelessness and despair, because there is no one to rescue us.

In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina many fingers were pointed as to whom should have done what, and why this, that, or the other thing was not done. Warnings were posted, the alarm had been sounded, weather forecasts showed, without question, the upcoming storm. Several days advance notice was given. The storm was coming. Still many refused to leave and would not heed the warnings until it was too late. Reports came in of people refusing to be rescued from their flooded homes by those who were sent to help them. Sad as it may appear, some preferred to stay in the mess they were in, rather than reach out to the helping hand sent to save them from their malaise.

Just like the television program, many people lead lives of quiet desperation, to quote Henry David Thoreau. It is in their own inabilities to deal with life and cope with problems, that they find relief, if ever so slight, in the rescuing of a fellow human being. By performing acts of bravery and rescue, one feels the joy and elation of being godlike to someone else, an angel of sorts, the bridge between life and death, hope or despair, rescue or disaster, all the while crying out on the inside- can’t anyone rescue me? Why is it that I seem to be the only one who cares enough to help someone else?

Could it be their own desperation makes them more susceptible to others in the same situation? Is it feeling of godlikeness that motivates these otherwise desperate souls to rescue their fallen man? Could it be as simple as seeing someone else in greater distress than oneself which removes the focus, even if only for a short time, from ourselves and onto the greater need of our neighbor?

Heroes, some may call these rescue workers, the brave men and women who risk all to save others. None can argue that without these brave

souls many more lives would be lost to disasters of one type or another.

For all have done wrong and are far from the glory of God; _{Romans 3:23 (BBE)}

There is a disaster that awaits all who have not dialed 911 for themselves. Although the dangers are as real as a flood or fire, many seem to overlook their need for rescue from an eternity separated from God.

Perhaps they have reasoned away the need for saving. Many perhaps think, that a loving God could not look the other way when someone is in need of rescue. When the flood waters came and rescue workers were dispatched after Katrina, some refused to be rescued thinking they were in no danger or had no need of rescue. In our world today we see this same mindset, as we witness the quiet desperation of man, instead of calling for help to the One who can rescue them, they do not see the need for it.

Thank God, Jesus came to the rescue. The heavenly 911 call went out and help was dispatched immediately to those who were caught by hell’s fire and damnation. It took all He had to save us to the uttermost. Jesus went all the way, straight into Satan’s fiery hell, to rescue all those who were held captive. He fearlessly faced the enemy of life and conquered it head on.

Never flinching, never faltering, never wavering, but steadfast and purposeful, Jesus marched straight into hell’s kitchen to retrieve all those held captive. Captive to sin. Captive to selfishness. Captive to despair and hopelessness. Captive to addictions and habits.

Jesus was not motivated by any need within himself to feel important. He was not a desperate soul reaching out to another, He was God Himself who stepped out of heaven with compassion for the lost world and in love gave all He had to give.

“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:” Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” _{Isaiah 43:1-3 (ESV)} Now that is a true rescue.

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. _{Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)}