A house caught fire on Thursday morning, November 15, in Wilmer, Alabama.  Five people and a baby were inside the home when it caught fire.  All of them were able to get out except one: the homeowner’s step-father; he was trapped in one of the rooms.

An unidentified man – a “mystery man” – stopped to help.  He discovered that the man was trapped inside the burning home.  He went in to get him out.  He was able to pull him out safely.  He put the injured man in his own jeep and wrapped some tears in his skin until the ambulance arrived.  When the injured man was safe in the care of ambulance workers, the mystery man left.

The family was incredibly thankful for their hero, but they were saddened because they did not know his identity.

WKRG News 5 investigated and found the mystery man.  His name is Robert Whisenant.  Whisenant, who has worked with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Fire for 10 years, was on his way to take a paramedic test when he saw the house on fire.  When he discovered that there was still someone inside the home, he went in to find him “without a second thought,” he said.  “You couldn't see even crawling on the floor.  I wasn't able to see him.  I was able to yell for him.  He started yelling, so that's how I was able to locate him.” 

Whisenant resists being called a hero.  “No, I don't view myself as a hero,” he said.  “I just [did] something that needed to be done.  I've got the training, so I was doing what I was trained to do.”

So, the nameless Good Samaritan – the mystery man – has been identified, and the family that he helped is extremely thankful for him.

Behold, I tell you another mystery...

Because of our sins, each of us is in grave danger.  We are trapped and unable to free ourselves and in that state, we are destined to die.

The “mystery” is that there is good news that each and every one of us can be saved from our sins and share the spiritual blessings that God desires for us (see Ephesians 3:1-12).

Someone came to our rescue!  In order to rescue us, He had to give His life.  Our Rescuer willingly laid down His life so that we might live.

His name is Jesus; He is the sinless Son of God.  Yet, because He loved us so much, He gave His life on the cross to pay the price for our sins and rescue us from eternal destruction.  “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

God will save 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).

Thankfully, the “mystery” has been solved: Jesus Christ is the Savior.  He will save those who trust and obey Him.

Won’t YOU?

- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from “Mysterious hero who saved man from Wilmer house fire revealed” by Dana Winter, www.wkrg.com, November 15, 2018

David A. Sargent, Minister

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

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