An illustration for deliverance

Perhaps the fact that my father was a coal miner has
sensitized me to the story out of Chile. Maybe my
amateur explorations of undeveloped caves helps me feel
for those men.

From the moment I first heard the story about 33 men in
Chile trapped in a mine since August 5, I've kept up
with the reports.

Efforts to rescue the men are proceeding around the
clock. For a time no one was sure they were even alive.
Now we know that they all survived the entrapment, but
we also know that it will take months to free them.

Keeping those men alive until the deliverance can
happen is a monumental challenge.

Deliverance, as all will admit, is not a certainty.
Yes, great effort is being expended and experts from
around the world have offered their wisdom on how to
proceed. But keeping those men fed, hydrated and sane
for several more weeks will not be an easy task.
Deliverance may happen, or it may not.

Those whose spiritual eyes have been opened know that
we are looking for deliverance on a grander scale. The
world in which we live is badly marred by sin and
mankind has incurred the wrath of God by disobedience.

What will be the result of this spiritual rebellion?
"...a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and
fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries"
(Hebrews 10:26,27, NKJV). Sooner or later the roof
will fall in, and guilty sinners will be swept into
everlasting destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

There is hope, however. God saw our dilemma and did not
abandon us in our earthen tomb. The provision he made
is "...his son from heaven, whom he raised from the
dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to
come" (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

That wrath will fall upon sinners. But Jesus can
deliver souls from such misery. That deliverance is
certain.

God's ability has already been demonstrated on a
smaller scale. He "delivered righteous Lot, who was
oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked" (2
Peter 2:7). Living in a city doomed by its depraved
inhabitants, Lot was nonetheless rescued before the
fire and brimstone began falling.

Hear the testimony of Paul, if you still doubt God's
ability to rescue: "Who delivered us from so great a
death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that he
will still deliver us" (2 Corinthians 1:10).

Pray for the miners trapped underground in Chile and
for those trying to deliver them. But Jesus doesn't
need our prayers because "he is able to deliver thee!"

 

by Tim Hall