The incredibly devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria in February of 2023 has claimed tens of thousands of lives. In the midst of so much devastation many people have been pulled from the rubble. 11 days after the earthquake a man was rescued from a collapsed building. The first thing he did was ask for a cell phone to call the rest of his family with the news he was alive. The smile on his face gave evidence of the gratitude and joy he felt as he was rescued.
I can’t imagine being trapped in the debris of a collapsed building with no way to free yourself. I am so thankful that God is in the rescuing business. David, when describing God’s delivering power said: “I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps” (Ps. 40:1,2). We were buried under the rubble of our sins and trespasses when God had mercy on us. The weight of the rubble that buried us left us motionless and unable to free ourselves from our helpless condition. Jesus our rescuer saw our condition and had compassion on us. By His death on the cross He made it possible for everyone to be rescued. When we reach out to Him in faith, He pulls us from the rubble of our sins and makes us a child of God. Luke 7 tells us about a notoriously sinful woman who was forgiven and rescued by Jesus. She was so overwhelmed with gratitude that she came to Jesus while He was at a dinner hosted by a Pharisee. Everyone knew how wicked a person she had been. But she bowed at Jesus feet and her tears of gratitude washed over His feet. She wiped them with her hair, and then kissed and anointed His feet. Her actions were an expression of her love. Great forgiveness deserves great gratitude.
You and I have been rescued from the rubble. May we never cease to give thanks and praise to Jesus, our rescuer.