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Mar 17, 2025 06:00am

The Ultimate Rescue Mission

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An asteroid was headed toward Earth at an alarming rate, and it threatened to obliterate the planet entirely. A special team was put together to save the world. But could they?

In the summer of 1998, “Armageddon” was the hit movie at the box office. I remember being at a basketball camp, and a big group of girls went to see the film. They all came back with makeup smeared and red eyes. Even though the team had managed to destroy the asteroid, it wasn’t without loss. A man had given his life for those he loved and, ultimately, for those he didn’t even know.

Its heaviness was evident as the girls talked about the movie. Could something like that really happen to us? Would it be possible for an asteroid to destroy the Earth? And who would step in and warn us? Who would save us?

Romans 9:1-5

“With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. 2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them. 4 They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises. 5 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.”

Paul continues this letter to the church in Rome. He expressed concern for the Jewish people, especially those who had not yet believed in Christ. Paul was a Jew and considered them his “brothers and sisters.” He felt a kinship with them and a burden to share the truth with them.

The truth?

This world is on a crash course for destruction, and people will face a horrible future. He was willing to die himself if it could save them. But…

There’s only one way it can be stopped. There’s only one way you can be saved. There’s only one man that could intercede on our behalf.

His name is Jesus.

Jesus knew what lay ahead for mankind. He knew the destruction, pain, and torment that sin would lead to. And there was only one thing that could be done. He was willing to give His life for all mankind to be saved.

This isn’t some Hollywood blockbuster. This is real life. This world is under the curse of sin. All that are in it are destined for Hell. It’s the just punishment for our sins from a Holy God. God provided a way to be saved from the coming wrath in His great mercy. He sent His only Son to die on the cross to pay the debt we owe for our sins. Jesus defeated sin and death. He has victory over them. All who believe in Him will be saved from the eternal wrath of God on sin.

All who believe.

Do you? Do you believe these things? Then you can be saved. The Bible says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from our unrighteousness. When we accept the offer of salvation from Jesus, we lay down our life and trade it for His. We surrender to Him, His way, His will.

And once we are saved, there is a continual process of becoming more and more like Christ. He changes us from the inside out, making us into something completely different from how we were before. Because He has a purpose for us. He wants to use us to share this same truth with others. He desires for ALL to hear the good news that there is freedom in Christ.

Paul was willing to give his life for others to hear the truth. Are we?

Learn more about who Jesus is and what it looks like to follow Him at follow.lifeword.org.