Three men, all in their 40s, boarded a 20-foot skiff with
an outboard motor on March 30, 2024, to go fishing. They left Polowat
Atoll, Micronesia intending to fish near a deserted island called
Pikelot Atoll, roughly 100 miles away.
When the
fishermen didn’t return in a timely manner, family members alerted the
authorities that they were missing. A search and rescue mission was
enacted by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. A Navy P-8 aircraft out
of Kadena Air Force Base in Japan joined the search along with the USCG
Cutter Oliver Henry.
On April 7,
the crew of the Navy plane spotted the mariners on Pikelot Atoll. The
fishermen had used palm fronds to spell out the word “HELP” on the beach
of the island. Survival packages were deployed from the aircraft to the
fisherman. Later, the men reported that their boat had been damaged,
but they had survived for several days by eating coconuts and drinking
water from a well on the island.
The Oliver
Henry was rerouted to rescue the men. They were returned to Polowat
Atoll safe and sound. *
Because of
our sins, we are in desperate need of rescue (Romans 6:23). Our “ship”
has run aground, and we are in grave danger.
God loves us
so much that He sent His Son Jesus to rescue us. To save us, Jesus had
to die on the cross to pay the price for our redemption (1 Peter
1:18-19). Jesus willingly “gave Himself for our sins so that He might
rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God
and Father” (Galatians 1:4 NASB). Each of us must accept God’s offer of
salvation to be rescued.
Saul was
deeply aware of his sins and his need for salvation. He would later
describe himself as the worst of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). When
confronted by the risen Christ and convicted by his sins, he cried out
for help. The Lord sent Ananias to this penitent believer with the Good
News of the Gospel: Jesus had paid the price for his sins. His sins can
be forgiven, and he can be reconciled to God. Ananias said to Saul:
“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your
sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). So he did. Then
he, as the Apostle Paul, went everywhere telling others about how Jesus
can save us if we’ll only trust and obey Him.
God will rescue and give eternal life to those who
place their faith
and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn 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).
To be
rescued, we must recognize our dire need for help. Then we must embrace
the Good News that Jesus came to our rescue and submit our lives to Him
through our trusting obedience.
Here’s the
Good News: Jesus is ready to rescue you.
-- David A.
Sargent
* Information gleaned from “US Coast Guard, Navy
rescue 3 fishermen from deserted island after spelling 'HELP' with
palms” by Greg Wehner of Fox News,
www.foxnews.com.
David A. Sargent,
Minister
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
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