How far would you go? What would you be willing to do to save somebody's
life?
In 1989 over 30,000 people died in an earthquake, which hit
Armenia. One father raced to his boy's school and found it had been
leveled. Uncertain of what he should do, he stood there. He stood until
he remembered a promise he had made: "Son, no matter what, I'll always
be there for you."
The father started digging at the place where
his son's classroom had been. Soon other parents arrived. They were also
shocked by what they saw, and they sympathized with the man. Still, they
needed to be practical. They said common sense things like, "Don't do
this to yourself. There's no hope. Try to help where you can make a
difference."
Without stopping, the father asked: "Are you going
to help me now?"
What would you have replied? I can tell you the
other parents left and the man kept digging alone.
A policeman
came by and warned, "What will happen if you keep digging and the rubble
caves in? You'll be caught and then somebody will have to rescue you. Go
on home. We can take care of this."
The head of the fire
department arrived. He said, "Trapped gas is causing explosions and
fires all over. You're risking your life and those of others. Let the
professionals do what they've been trained to do. Go home."
The
father asked them both, "Are you going to help me now?" He ended up
digging alone.
What would you have done? If you had stayed to
help, how long would you have stayed? The father dug for eight hours.
Would you have still been there, by his side? Twelve hours of steady
scraping by hand went by. Would you have been there then? Twenty-four
hours and the entire day had gone by. The father dug alone.
In
the 38th hour, the father moved a large stone and heard his son's voice.
"Dad, it's me. I told the other kids not to worry. I told 'em if you
were alive, you'd save me and when you saved me, you'd save them. You
promised, 'No matter what, I'll always be there for you!' You did it,
Dad!"
The father shouted down, "How are you? How is it?"
The son told him, "There are 14 of us left out of 33, Dad. We're scared,
hungry, thirsty and glad you're here."
"Come on out, boy!" the
father called down.
"No, Dad! Let the other kids out first, I
know you'll get me! No matter what, I know you'll be there for me!" All
14 of the children came out. With bleeding hands, the father hugged each
of them.
How far would you go to save someone's life?
I
admire this man from Armenia. Still, if it had not been his child do you
think he would have kept digging?
I don't know.
I do know
thousands of years ago the Lord made a promise to save His sinful
children. It took a long time for that to take place, but God kept His
promise in the Person of His Son. For 33 years Jesus did all which
needed to be done so we can be saved. He lived, He died, He rose, and
sent His Holy Spirit. Now that same Spirit of God searches for the lost.
He doesn't give up...but He asks, "Are you going to help?"
Only
you can say how the story will end.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give
thanks You have rescued me. Now may I do all I can to help in the rescue
of others. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved;
not to be duplicated without permission.
