David Urey was desperate.  He, his wife, and their son were involved in an automobile accident in West Virginia.  Urey suffered only minor injuries but his son suffered a concussion and his wife had a broken back and a severe scalp injury.  Mrs. Urey was also in her fifth month of pregnancy.

A surgeon at Grant Memorial Hospital in Petersburg, WV, told Urey he could perform basic surgery to keep his wife alive, but she needed to see a neurosurgeon as soon as possible.  The closest one was 150 miles away at Georgetown Hospital, and Urey’s wife would probably not survive if transported by ambulance, the doctor said.

Searching for a helicopter to airlift his wife to D.C., in desperation Urey called the White House.  He was able to explain his situation to Gen. James Hughes, President Richard Nixon’s military aide.  Gen. Hughes called Lt. Col. Abe Wolson to see if the President’s helicopter could make the round trip to WV and back to Georgetown Hospital so Urey’s wife could have the life-saving neurosurgery.  Lt. Col. Wolson said that the flight was possible so the order was given.

The rescue mission was successfully completed.  “The outcome was that Brian, their son, fully recovered from his head injury in a few weeks.  Mrs. Urey gave birth to a normal baby boy and she eventually recovered,” Wolson said proudly. *

Because of our sins, we were in a fatal condition, unable to save ourselves, and desperately in need of rescue (Romans 6:23).

Although our sins are an offense to Him, God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to rescue us.  This divine rescue mission would demand that Jesus give His life to pay the price for our redemption from sin (1 Peter 1:18-19).  Jesus willingly laid down His life for our salvation, so that we might live (John 10:17-18).

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn away from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

The Apostle Paul extolled the glory of this rescue mission as he opened  letter to Christians in Galatia: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Galatians 1:3-5).

Jesus came to rescue YOU.  He will save you, if you will only accept His offer on His terms.

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from “Abe Wolson recalls one mission worth 20 years of service” by Don Moore in www.donmooreswartales.com.

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org