God has freed us from the power of darkness, and he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. The Son paid for our sins, and in him we have forgiveness.
Colossians 1:13-14 (NCV)
We all love a good rescue story. When someone in distress faithfully holds out for their hero, we all get drawn in. Anyone who has ever seen Luke Skywalker aboard the Millennium Falcon rescue Princess Leia from the Death Star, understands the power of a hero. On screen, we have also watched Shrek rescue Princess Fiona, first from a tower guarded by a fire-breathing dragon, and then from her wedding to Lord Farquaad. We cheered as Buzz Lightyear heroically saved his new buddy, Woody from being destroyed. We witnessed Tom Hanks’ character rescue himself with the “encouragement” of a volleyball named Wilson. Yeah, we love a good rescue story.
What movie makers understand is that all human hearts cry out to be rescued, and they know a thing or two about drawing us in to the story. God does, too. The Bible is the greatest rescue story of all time! And out of all the hero stories of the world, it’s the only one whose Hero saves millions upon millions of lives! The entire Bible story from start to finish points to Jesus: the only true Rescuer, our Hero and Savior. Though we all desperately try, we can’t save ourselves, with or without encouragement from inanimate sports equipment. But we can always cry out to Jesus! Because He is, and always has been, the only hope for the world.
Jesus is the Hero who came to save you from sin and darkness and death when all hope seemed lost. Jesus is the Hero who came to reveal the true heart of God, whose hands and feet took nails for you, who conquered death. Jesus is the Hero who came to rescue you from a broken, hate-filled world, and calls you to help Him transform it into a love-filled one, instead. Open your Bible and start reading the greatest rescue story of all time, and live every day on mission for Jesus. There are people in your life who are in distress and are desperately searching for a hero. Hand them a Bible and introduce them to your Hero, who is so much greater than any hero who saves the day on the big screen. Only Jesus can save SOULS! You are deeply loved!