As children, we reach out to our parents when we are in a scary situation. Later, women may long for a "knight in shining armor" to swoop us up and carry us away to a safe place, while a man may long more for a strong father figure to help him out of a tough spot. Literature and movies abound with stories of these longings and heroes. Examples include King Arthur and the knights of the round table, Robinhood and his merry men, old movies of "bad guys" dressed in black and the hero in white coming through to save the day, Marvel's cast of superheroes, and the list goes on. Brent Curtis and John Eldredge, in their book The Sacred Romance: Drawing Closer to the Heart of God state that "The scriptures are written from the perspective that God is the hero of the story...The gospel says that we, who are God's beloved...were stolen from our True Love and that he launched the greatest campaign in the history of the world to get us back."
I believe that we, too, being made in His image are called to help rescue others. Just as the hero in the movies not only saves himself, but saves others from tyrannical villains, out of the wreckage of collapsed tunnels amidst earthquakes and other natural and man made disasters, we too are called to listen to the heartaches of others and point them to our hero.
One of my favorite pictures of Jesus as our hero is in Revelation 19:11-16.
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
I can hear background music moving toward a crescendo as I read these verses and the hero of heroes bursts forth on the scene to defeat every lie, false accusation, and temptation of the enemy as well as the adversary himself. In contrast to the evil one, Jesus, our perfect, righteous hero has full power and authority to win this final battle and bears the name, Faithful and True.
Whatever battle we face --depression, disappointment, discouragement, betrayal, fear, or a myriad of other emotions from an endless number of health, situational, and relationship struggles, we have a hero who IS Faithful and True. He is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). He keeps his word because He IS The Word of God. Isaiah 43:2 assures us:
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
He will reign over all circumstances because He IS the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus has rescued us and will continue rescuing us until the enemy is fully defeated and we are fully rescued, when "the Holy City, the new Jerusalem" comes down out of heaven and His dwelling place is once again among the people (Revelation 21:2-3).
If you need rescuing, listen to the songs below and strengthen your hope and trust. If you do not feel the need for rescue at this point in time, think back, reflect. and be thankful for all you have been rescued from at this point in your life...and pray for someone else you know that needs rescued.
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