My friend Nathan was on the 61st floor of Tower Two that September day when a hijacked jetliner flew into the World Trade Center. I interviewed him recently for our youth broadcast, RealTime, and I was deeply moved by the story Nathan told. He was coming out of the restroom when he remembers seeing a piece of burning paper float by the window. That was his first hint of the horror that was to follow. As people began to realize they might be in danger, they did what my friend did - they headed for the stairwell. Nathan's account took me into those stairwells, ultimately jammed with screaming people -- through the terror of first the smoke starting to fill the stairwell and then the quake when a plane hit their building.
Our friend finally made it to the soot-covered lobby - and that's where he saw the faces he says he'll never forget. He told me, "I started seeing some of the rescue workers for the first time heading toward the stairwells and directing us out. You can still remember the looks on some of those people's faces - looking just as scared as I was, I'm sure. They are some of the people that helped save my life - and never made it out themselves."
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A WORD WITH YOU today about "Your Only Hope Of Making It Out".
My friend told me he will be forever grateful to those rescuers - who gave their lives so people like him didn't have to. He owes his life to them.
I wasn't at the World Trade Center that awful day. But I understand a little of how my friend feels about those rescuers - because I know someone who gave His life so I didn't have to die. I owe my life to Him. He's the Son of God. His name is Jesus. He rescued me. He wants to rescue you, too - if you'll let Him.
Just before Jesus' arrival on earth, his earthly father Joseph was given instructions from heaven about this baby that would soon be born. In it - even before the Son of God spent His first day as one of us - His rescue mission is announced. It's in our word for today from the Word of God, Matthew 1:21 - "You are to give Him the name Jesus, (that means deliverer) because He will save His people from their sins." Save. That's what those courageous rescuers did for my friend. They saved him from a deadly situation he could not get himself out of.
That's what Jesus came to do for you and me. Our deadly situation isn't a burning or collapsing building - it's the eternal death penalty that the Bible says is what our sin costs. We have hijacked the control of our life from the eternal God who made us - and that has eternally deadly consequences - eternal separation from God in hell. But God loves you more than you can imagine. That's why He sent His one and only Son into our "collapsing building", up the stairwell to rescue us. And Jesus' death on that cross was the moment when He was taking the hell that you and I deserve . . . He was dying so you don't have to.
Today, Jesus has come to where you are to bring you out. But He's your personal Rescuer only if you personally reach out and grab His hand as your only hope of getting out. For each of us, there comes a moment when it's too late to grab the Rescuer's hand. Right now - today - you still can, and I pray you will. If you want Him to rescue you, I hope you'll let me send you the booklet, "Yours For Life", that I wrote about beginning this relationship with Him. Just let me know you want it.
I am a man who owes my life to the Man who brought me out at the highest possible cost. He wants to do the same for you. He laid down His life to rescue you. Don't live - and die - without Him.
Are you missing a relationshp with God? Find out more about how a relationship with God can be Yours for Life! If you're not sure you belong to Jesus Christ, and you'd like to make sure, check out YOURS FOR LIFE!