Today is Friday and I am participating in Five Minute Friday which is a writing exercise based on a particular word prompt. Today's word is RESCUE.
Here in the south, the word "rescue" is mostly used in reference to an ambulance. "We need to call rescue" is the way we communicate how to get an ambulance and some help.
When I was a young girl, I had a deep but unwarranted fear of ambulances. Looking back, it was probably based on the sound of the siren. My parents told me I could hear an ambulance siren and come running to them asking "is it coming here?" before they even heard the first wail of the siren. I was terrified the ambulance would arrive at our house.
This fear continued through my childhood and early adult years. As a young bride in my 20's I was hanging clothes on the clothesline one day and heard a siren. This was very unusual as we lived in a rural area. Closer and closer the sound came and I began to panic. Seeing red lights and the ambulance slowing down near my driveway sent me scurrying inside, but peering out the window to see where it was going. It turned into my driveway and went to an elderly neighbors home further down the lane.
This irrational fear was finally broken when a few times throughout the years a medical emergency dictated a call to summons an ambulance. The wailing siren brought assurance that help was on the way. The rescue unit was not something to be feared, but a lifeline of help and hope.
For a Christian, a dramatic rescue has taken place. Colossians 1:13 describes a transfer from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.
" For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves," NIV
"For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son," NLT
"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love," NKJV
Before Christ, we lived in darkness, not understanding the power of sin and its hold on us. Lives that are lived blindly, no peace, no purpose but stumbling along day by day.
That sin that was in our nature - we are all born sinners - kept us in the dark, not understanding the great love of our Lord. But as the light of the Lord shone in our hearts, we had a choice - we could call 'rescue' and have the loving salvation of Jesus save us from our sins.
When we invite Jesus into our hearts, He cleanses our sins, breaks our chains and gives light to our souls. He makes everything new - our actions, words, attitudes and brings something beautiful to us. His hope and love fill us and heal us. We are rescued and safe forevermore with Him.
The wail of the siren that once brought fear, was a lifeline of rescue and help. For those in darkness, may the wail of the siren, cause hearts to listen and embrace the rescue of the Lord, to save from sin and darkness and bring the glorious light of Jesus into our lives.
It is amazing how the sound of the siren causes us to pause. Our thoughts turn to those who need the help and to pray everything is going to be OK. Having had an ambulance called to our home several times, I know the sense of relief I experience at the mere sight of their arrival. I am so grateful our Lord, our Rescuer, brings that same relief for He is ever with us, never leaves us, and has come to save. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteSomething really jarring about the sound of sirens in rural areas. Glad you've been able to release the fear, and deeply grateful for the medical workers who come to help us in scary situations.
ReplyDeleteHe makes every thing new. His love fills us and heals is ❤ wow how awesome is that. Returning the visit from fmf # 4. X
ReplyDeleteThe Rescuer.
ReplyDeleteI ignored sirens and lights
ReplyDeleteas below my dignity,
until, upon that night of nights,
they had come for me.
I had an operation
for, God help me, piles,
and in that situation,
I might have stayed awhile,
but they needed that one bed,
and I was discharged
to, at home, bleed out instead
(I guess that's livin' large),
but I got another chance
from that right quick ambulance.
It has long been my practice to pray for the "rescuers" whenever I hear the wail of an ambulance. I've met others in life who have shared with me that they do the same thing. I wondered who was praying for my momma as we took a ride in the ambulance the night my dear mother's battle with Alzheimer's took a sharp and fearful turn. It was frightening, yet comforting to know that help had come in so many ways other than help with the present physical distress. God had answered my prayers for wisdom as to what my next step in her care would be by allowing this event to help redirect my path to the way I needed to go at this juncture in the Alzheimer's road. Several years later, my sweet mom met her Rescuer face to face in new life because she had many years ago met Him as Savior and Rescuer from sin and death. Thank you for posting this piece and helping me to recall this evidence of God's faithfulness in my own mind once again.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I really like the way you tied the rescuing sound of the ambulance's siren to our rescuing Lord.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.