Dear Friends of Christian Concourse,
To be sure, most of us were struck by the recent events surrounding the rescue of two American flyers who were shot down over enemy territory. By what many consider to be miraculous events, both airmen were rescued in rugged mountainous terrain with hostile forces in hot pursuit! According to a simple internet search, the friendly forces who executed this recovery included “hundreds of U. S. troops” and “dozens of aircraft”!
Over and over, as we watched the menacing drama unfold we heard the leaders of our armed forces declare, “No man left behind!” Indeed, private citizens and national officials alike, all over our nation, laughed, rejoiced, and cried tears of happiness and gratitude when both were reported miraculously saved.!!!
The odds were bad; for hours the outcome was in question; but monumental efforts of men and machines prevailed despite the enemy’s efforts to deny the rescuers success. No doubt, the forces sent to help the lost airmen repeated in their minds many times, “No man left behind!”
This event of incredible achievement accomplished by so many at such great expense for the benefit of so few in such “hopeless” peril, may inspire for Christians a surge of faith in our Heavenly Father. “How?”, one may ask. Consider these words of Master Jesus:
“All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me; and him that comes to Me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. And this is the Father’s will Who has sent Me: that of all whom He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise them up again at the last day.” John 6:37-39 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 What a promise! What assurance! And at what great price!!!
Imagine with us a frail little lady, locked in her body by a stroke. Her ability to speak was taken, and now she is dependent on someone else to bathe her, change her diaper, feed her and move her to her geri-chair. Someone else controls the light in her room. Someone else decides when and what she has for lunch. Someone else has to turn her to fight the bed-sores on her back. But…there is something deep inside her that strengthens her. No…not something, someone! She opened her heart to her Master Jesus many years ago. As He promised her, He has never left her or forsaken her: He holds her in His arms, He strengthens her in her heart as she faces the trials of every day and drifts into restless sleep every night!
By God’s grace, a humble nursing home minister slips into her room. Standing by her bed, ignoring the sight, the smells and the silence, the Lord’s trooper sings for a few minutes, “Blessed Assurance,” “Amazing Grace,” “Jesus Loves Me,” and then quotes the 23rd Psalm before turning to leave. This ambassador of heavenly compassion doesn’t see the shadow of a smile on the face of our frail little sister. But God sees! “The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 (NIV).
There is something else in our suffering sister’s life that no human eye will see. One morning the CNA will try to awaken her to find she has passed in the night. No ceremony. No tears shed for her. But we can only imagine the high, high rejoicing and the flowing songs of happiness and gratitude bursting from our beaming sister set free from her tribulation! Truly, no matter our journey, in the everlasting love of our Heavenly Father: There is no child left behind!!!