Main page

Have you ever been in grave danger?

If so, you will never forget it…If not, almost daily we see images of those who are, because of accidents, floods, wars, terror attacks, hurricanes, some events etched in our minds, like Grenfell, Syria, or 9/11.Life is so unpredictable - we simply don’t know what the next day or hour will bring, some times are good, some difficult. When life is difficult it may be through our own making or that of others. Whether it is a mistake, a bad decision, a lifestyle choice, or outright wrong; all of our actions in life have consequences that can result in blessings, difficulties, hardship, or outright danger. Yet in life we will all have times when we need the help of others, or we may need to be rescued or saved by others.

Do I need saving?

Often life seems straight forward and easy, with no real threat of danger but whilst we may be physically safe, are we spiritually safe? The reality is we are more than a body, we all consist of a physical body and a precious, eternal soul, which we ignore so easily to our peril. The condition of our heart and soul is in great danger due to our rejection of God – what the Bible calls sin. Not one of us is perfect, no not one. “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). Furthermore, it is a danger we can do nothing to stop or to save ourselves from, and yet it has a tragic final outcome, “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and as Jesus said clearly - “rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell”. (Matthew 10:28). So our spiritual condition is serious and we are all in desperate need of rescue from an eternal punishment. We all need to be saved from our sin.

Am I ignoring the warnings?

We ignore warnings of dangers so easily! We find it easier to see when others are in danger than to see when we are! Distracted, we take our eye off the ball….and bang…like the car driver who chooses to use a mobile phone whilst driving - a few seconds of distraction and it can all be over! Lives lost, and time can't be rewound - everything is changed forever. The fact that it is illegal no longer matters. It was easy to ignore the warning but it is impossible to undo the consequences!

Spiritually the warnings are there too, we have an inbuilt knowledge of right and wrong – our conscience (a moral code, given by God to all mankind, not for His benefit alone but ours) We live in a world where we have reset our moral codes to please ourselves, in some cases that conscience is switched off completely, as the bible says, “when everyone did that which is right in their own eyes” (Judges 17:6). It has led to a broken society and a hopelessness and deep sadness in the hearts of so many… our guilt takes away our peace.

The warnings are clear. In any form of danger, our responses can vary... Fight or flight! Denial and blame, or admitting to our faults. Distraction with countless activities to block out the reality or hiding in addictive behaviours (alcohol, drugs, sex, eating, shopping). Yet they are not the solution and difficulties ignored can soon escalate into real danger.

How can I be saved?

Our society is privileged to have numerous wonderful emergency services, the envy of many in our world. Every day many put themselves at risk in order to save others - when the instinct of doing good overrides self-preservation and personal gain. We elevate one who saves another to a hero and one who saves many others to a superhero. Such is our appetite for stories of hero’s and superheroes, and of good overcoming evil and danger that numerous films are produced and billions are spent demonstrating it every year. Yet to some, reality and make believe are not always clear.

So it is that our God and Maker seeing our fallen and sinful state and knowing we cannot save ourselves, sent One greater than any hero or superhero to save mankind - in the person of Jesus Christ - out of His love for us. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17). Though our rebellion and sin leaves us in danger of perishing in a lost eternity, Almighty God, though justified to condemn us, “Is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance”. (2 Peter 3:9)

So how has Jesus done this? - He has paid the price for our sins by dying at the Cross, and in rising from the dead, He has overcome death and Hell for us. Can you be saved, and if so how? Yes! Admit to your sin, and turn from it (repent) and ask Jesus to save you (pray to Him) - and His promise is that He will save you. “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

So the only question left is…………. do you want to be saved?