Rescue at Camp Hope

Rescue at Camp Hope

The world looked on in amazement and joy as the trapped Chilean miners are hoisted from the depths one by one; such a rescue mission as this will undoubtedly go down in history as an extraordinary achievement and a remarkable demonstration of man’s compassion for his fellow; the rescue of these trapped miners provides a great illustration of God’s so great salvation.

The words of psalm 40:2 ‘He brought me up also out of an horrible pit’ are most appropriate here; the Psalmist is testifying as to how that God had brought him up out of a deep pit; these words convey the thought of a great rescue mission, far exceeding anything accomplished by human agency.

The Plight of these trapped miners parallels that of the unsaved sinner; they were considered lost, without hope, trapped, in darkness, unable to help or free themselves, they could not work their way up; they had no future and time was fast running out; if they were not rescued, then death would be guaranteed. No amount of will power or resolve could alter their circumstances; they were held fast and could not break free.

If they were ever to be freed from that horrible pit of pain and death, then help and deliverance would have to come from above; someone on a higher plain would have to intervene on their behalf. This is a perfect picture as to how God intervened on the behalf of fallen, ruined and helpless sinners; yes there was someone that really cared. ‘He brought me up also out of an horrible pit’

In order for the Chilean miners to live, a rescue Plan had to be formulated by someone above; the plan would have to guarantee salvation to the miners in order for them to believe in it; a prototype would not do, this plan would have to be guaranteed to bring hope to the hopeless. Such a plan, of itself, could not deliver, if it were to be successful, then it must be implemented; this would involve cost, it would necessitate sacrifice.

The plan was to reach and lift to safety each individual miner; and so the great rescue plan was implemented. Isn’t the parallel striking with that of God’s so great salvation; God, knowing how and where to reach the fallen sinner, planned to save them; It cost God the very best that heaven could afford, the person of God’s eternally begotten Son; ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son’ it was the Lord Jesus Christ that offered Himself a perfect sacrifice to put away sin, providing salvation to the whosoever. ‘Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him’. It was God that planned and it was God that implemented that plan of salvation; that is why it is perfectly reliable and has never failed. ‘He brought me up also out of an horrible pit’.

It would take great Power, both to reach and to lift the Chilean miners to the surface; if the power failed then the entire operation would be thrown into jeopardy and no one would be saved. The miners would have been encouraged when the rescue shaft was completed and they saw the capsule arrive; however they would have never reached the surface had they not entered the capsule and trusted in the power above to lift them higher; their rescue was one at a time, it was not universal.

This brings an even greater parallel with God’s so great salvation into focus; yes, the power to reach the lost sinner belongs to God. It is only when the sinner as an individual, recognises their Plight that they step towards help; it is only when they believe the Plan that they begin to look up; and when they see the Power of God reach them, then they must respond.

Only a fool would refuse such an offer of salvation, only a fool would remain in darkness and despair when such power to save was available. The miners are alive today because they stepped into the capsule; they are alive today because they depended unreservedly on the power available to lift them to safety; what is more the miners were completely rescued, they were brought right up to the surface, mission accomplished.

When the power of God reaches a sinner, and turning away from sin, they avail themselves of that offer of mercy and wholeheartedly depend on that power to save; then they are lifted out of darkness into light and granted a glorious standing in Christ. They are not saved in stages, they are not delivered by instalments, glory to God, they are lifted completely and powerfully, out of guilt and sin; they are redeemed, pardoned and are found new creatures in Christ. ‘He brought me up also out of an horrible pit’.

Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)