As Scott guides his twin-engine Cessna in towards Boston's Logan Airport, his passenger — six-year-old Erika Carlson — squeals with excitement. "We're about to land," she announces to her mom sitting next to her.

Erika was born with a life-threatening disease. For years she has had to travel to Boston from her family's home in Maine several times each year. But the twelve-hour drive became too draining for Erika and her parents.

That's when Scott stepped in. A non-commercial pilot, he volunteered to fly Erika to Boston.¹ And every trip he's made has come at a great sacrifice to him — about $1,200 round trip. But because he knows that Erika desperately needed the treatment, he was willing to make that sacrifice. Again and again.

Jesus has stepped in to lead us safely to the Father.

As I reflected on this story, I was struck by the parallel to our spiritual condition. All of us have souls that are sick with sin. We are helpless. We're in need of a spiritual physician. And Jesus has stepped in to lead us safely to the Father.

Paul states inEphesians 5:25 that "Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a ... sacrifice to God." There's nothing we can do to earn this rescue — or to deserve it. Like little Erika, all we can do is receive it.

I hope you've received this gift and are following Jesus every day out of deep gratitude for rescuing you. Only Jesus can heal our sin-sick souls and guide us safely to a heavenly home.

References:
¹For more information, you may want to contact Angel Flight America, a nationwide group of volunteer pilots like Scott Coleman who provide assistance to medical patients.

Are you presently experiencing a new life? God's word says, "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" This new life is a free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ. If you want to know more about this life that only Jesus can give you, sign up for one of our Bible courses. Wherever you are in life, whatever you've done, you can begin again. You may also contact us at info@hopeforlife.org if you have questions about becoming a new creation.

 

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© 2004 Jim Clark.

Title: "Mission of Mercy"
Author: Jim Clark
Publication Date: March 11, 2004

The Way of the Heart: Desert Spirituality and Contemporary Ministry by Henri Nouwen The modern classic that interweaves the solitude, silence, and prayer of the fourth and fifth century Egyptian Desert Fathers and Mothers with our contemporary search for an authentic spirituality.

Jim Clark is Executive Director of the Christian Service Center in Abilene, Texas.

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