by Robert C. Veil, Jr.
It is our duty to rescue those around us who are perishing. As Edward S. Ufford so
beautifully wrote in 1888: “Throw out the lifeline across the dark wave; There is a brother whom
someone should save; Somebody’s brother, O who then will dare to throw out the lifeline, his peril
to share? Throw out the lifeline! Throw out the lifeline! Someone is drifting away; Throw out the
lifeline! Throw out the lifeline! Someone is sinking today.” Our duty in this regard seems so urgent
and so obvious, and yet it is so often overlooked.
One of the keys to effective spiritual rescue is recognizing the right rescuer. There are so
many siren calls to weak and vulnerable souls today! So many hold themselves out as rescuers.
They claim to have all of the answers, and usually if you will give them your undivided attention
(and perhaps some financial assistance), they will give you a myriad of prescriptions. Many of
these false rescuers come with glitzy and impressive approaches, slick podcasts, simplistic
messages of false assurance. And after much harm is done, all too many find out too late that they
have been misled by the wrong rescuer!
The right rescuer is Jesus Christ, and anyone who comes to you with spiritual advice should
be weighed against that infallible Savior. Are they giving you a scriptural lifeline designed to lift
you up and save your soul, or are they advancing their own pride, their own statistics, their own
wealth? Are they telling you their opinion, or are they showing you the Scriptures? This is a vital
question. It matters not how many lifelines we are thrown. If they are not securely anchored in
Jesus Christ, their assistance is meaningless.
If someone is seeking to provide spiritual guidance to you, ask yourself whether their advice
is founded in the Bible. Are their suggestions scriptural and sound? Are they willing to give book,
chapter and verse for the directives they issue? Or are they merely relying on their own opinions?
Many people get very good at manipulating others, or at mind control based on their own agenda.
We need to be very careful to avoid such “rescue.”
The rescue Jesus offers is sound, solid, and dependable. You can’t go wrong following His
direction. “The Lord knoweth how to deliver [“rescue” ESV] the godly out of temptation, and to
keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment,” (2 Peter 2:9). “Because he hath
set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him…He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him, and honor him…,” (Psalms 91:14-16). “I have
called upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God,” (Psalms 17:6).
The rescue of the Lord is timely—it is there just when needed. “But the salvation of the
righteous is of Jehovah: He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. And Jehovah helpeth them,
and rescueth them: He rescueth them from the wicked, and saveth them, Because they have taken
refuge in him,” (Psalms 37:39-40). All of us have had the trying experience of someone giving us
advice when it was neither needed nor wanted. God is not like that. He stands ready to help in our
time of need, does not force His will upon us, but is there like a faithful friend. When it comes to
giving advice, God’s timing is impeccable.
God’s rescue is comprehensive, thorough and complete. He gives us the cure, and the whole
cure. He does not leave us unsatisfied. He does not address only part of our problems, leaving us
to struggle with the others, or figure them out on our own. “The Lord will deliver me from every
evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be the glory for ever and ever.
Amen,” (2 Timothy 4:18). The Lord does not give us half answers. He gives us the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth.
When we carry out the Lord’s rescue operations, He assists us. He helps us to help others,
and does not leave us without guidance and instruction. We are not in this alone. We can take heart
in God’s encouraging words to the prophet, Jeremiah, when He commissioned him to speak on His
behalf: “But Jehovah said unto me, Say not, I am a child; for to whomsoever I shall send thee thou
shalt go, and whatsoever I shall command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid because of them;
for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith Jehovah, (Jeremiah 1:7).
It’s important to rescue the perishing. But let’s be sure we are relying on the right Rescuer.
And when we are in need of help ourselves, may we take heart in the fact that our help comes from
the Lord. “ I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: From whence shall my help come?My help
cometh from Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth,” (Psalms 121:1-2).
