Rescued
By Elizabeth Cole
For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and
brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness
of sins.
Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV)
One of my favorite movie characters
of all times is Jocopo in The Count of
Monte Cristo. He’s the one who’s facing sure execution by his
fellow-pirates right when the innocent Count washes up onshore after a daring
prison escape. Forced into a knife fight to the death, the Count overpowers
Jocopo, but then negotiates with the pirate captain to save his life. In utter
gratitude, Jocopo commits, “From here on out, I am your man.” He makes good on that statement and
faithfully serves the Count the rest of his life, constant in his obedience and
love for his master. Wholehearted and single-minded.
He was a rescued man.
In a sermon years ago, one of my
pastors asked this crystal-clear question: “Are you living as if you’ve been
rescued?” I have heard its echo ever
since. It’s captivated my thoughts and, I pray, is impacting my actions more
and more. If I truly grasp even a portion of what I’ve been rescued from and rescued for…wouldn’t my life be one of gratitude, expressed through love
toward others? Wouldn’t I faithfully serve my Rescuer in obedience and constant
awareness of His desires for my life? Wholehearted? Single-minded?
I began a list of what I’ve been
rescued from:
from
sin’s penalty of eternal separation from God.
from
the verdict of aloneness.
from
enslavement to my dark side.
from
chains of complete self-absorption.
from
shackles of my own shallowness.
from
an existence of purposelessness.
And the start of the list of what
I’ve been rescued for:
for
a love relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
for
allowing God to express His love to others through me.
for
victory over destructive actions.
for
participation in God’s grand plan to restore and redeem.
for
making a difference and doing good works chosen in advance for me to do.
for
living in biblical community in a way that is winsome to others.
for
a life that’s whole and holy.
I am a rescued woman.
What incredible lists. Yet, here’s
the rub for me: In the busy-ness of life, I find myself distracted from the
truth of my rescue. Rather than wholehearted, I’m “kinda-sorta-mostly-hearted.”
Rather than single-minded, I’m…well, prone to wander.
It’s time for a stake in the ground
once again. A moment where I confess my brokenness once more to my Rescuer and
ask for His love to compel me. To say to my Rescuer, “Lord Jesus, from here on
out, I am your woman.” Wholehearted. Single-minded.
You? You’re a rescued woman.
GOING DEEPER:
1. How will you express gratitude to
your Rescuer today?
FURTHER READING:
Elizabeth is a
wife with three grown daughters and two sons-in-law, and is the Director of
Connecting at Oakwood Church.
