The Rescue Society
To be completely up front, the concept for this post came from a sermon I heard Charles Swindol preach years ago. I've thought about it many times over the years and have come to realize it is more applicable now then ever. I have to admit that he told it much better than I ever could. So without further ado, here it is..........................
The Rescue Society
There was once a group of men who lived in a small seaside village. Due to its northern latitude the village was prone to strong storms blowing in from the sea. To compound the treacherous seas, the coastline was lined with rocky outcroppings. Over the years many ships had run aground on the rocks, almost always with a large loss of life.
One night during a strong storm, this group of friends sat around the fire at the local tavern eating a warm bowl of stew. As they eat and talked, the conversation eventually turn to the storm raging outside and weather there would be another shipwreck that evening. One of the men noted that it was too bad that there wasn't some way to warning ships of the rocks as they came in to the harbor. As they continued to discuss the lack of warning, another in the group suggested they build a lighthouse. It wouldn't need to be a big one, just enough to let the sailors know where the safe harbor was. A third member of these friends added that they could even have volunteers that would help rescue any poor souls unfortunate to be shipwrecked. This small group of friends worked late in to the night formulating plans to be able to help those in need.
In the morning, the friends excitedly brought their plan before the rest of the village, only to be ridiculed. Some said the were crazy to care about people they didn't even know. Others questioned who was going to pay for it. Still, others thought it was a great idea, but didn't think it was right for them. Undeterred, the men pledged to move forward using their own money and resources.
With in just a few short weeks they were able to get a small signal light built and purchased a rescue boat and equipment.Thus the "Village Rescue Society" ,or the "Village" as the members tended to call it, was born. Over the next few months the group of friends continued to maintain the rescue society. Using their own money they gradually added needed equipment. Thanks to their efforts of keeping the lighthouse lite, no ships were lost to the rocky shoreline.
One night about a year after the Village came in to existence a storm bigger than any of them had ever seen hit the coast. The men rushed to the lighthouse and light the lamp. As they watched the stormy sea, they couldn't help but notice a large ship struggling against the storm. Try as it might, it kept being pushed towards the rocks and certain doom. They quickly ran to the rescue boat and headed to the struggling ship. As they watched helplessly, the ship smashed in to the rocks and slowly started to sink. Thanks to all their planning and hard work they were able to pull everyone from the cold water and not a single soul was lost that night.
Unknown at the time to the members of the rescue society, the wife of the towns mayor was on the ship that night. The mayor was so appreciative of them saving his wife, he sang the praises of the Village Rescue Society to everyone he meet. Due to his praises, the small group of friends started to see more people come join them in tending the lighthouse and maintain the rescue equipment. As more and more people joined, some started to complain that they need to make the appearance of the societies buildings more appealing. While the founding members agreed the lighthouse could use a fresh coat of paint they didn't see a need for the type of renovations being proposed. They suggested using the money instead to upgrade the equipment and maybe even start a new lighthouse to help others further up the coast. The new comers argued if they had fancier buildings and the latest technology, it would draw more people of influence and increase the amount of money available to expand. Reluctantly the founding members agreed to let the new comers make the changes requested.
Over time the new comers kept making improvements and more and more of the leading members of the village started to join the Village society. Gradually they dropped the rescue from their name feeling it deterred from the image their growing club deserved. Eventually the majority of the members no longer remembered the reason the Village was founded.
One night, years after the night the founders had sat around the fire and gave birth to the idea of the rescue society, another big storm hit the coast where the Village sat. As the members watched from the comfort of their cozy clubhouse a ship struggled to reach the harbor. Some argued that someone should do something to help, others questioned why the government wasn't there to take care of everything. While they argued the ship ran aground on the rocks and all aboard were lost.
The Rescue Society
There was once a group of men who lived in a small seaside village. Due to its northern latitude the village was prone to strong storms blowing in from the sea. To compound the treacherous seas, the coastline was lined with rocky outcroppings. Over the years many ships had run aground on the rocks, almost always with a large loss of life.
One night during a strong storm, this group of friends sat around the fire at the local tavern eating a warm bowl of stew. As they eat and talked, the conversation eventually turn to the storm raging outside and weather there would be another shipwreck that evening. One of the men noted that it was too bad that there wasn't some way to warning ships of the rocks as they came in to the harbor. As they continued to discuss the lack of warning, another in the group suggested they build a lighthouse. It wouldn't need to be a big one, just enough to let the sailors know where the safe harbor was. A third member of these friends added that they could even have volunteers that would help rescue any poor souls unfortunate to be shipwrecked. This small group of friends worked late in to the night formulating plans to be able to help those in need.
In the morning, the friends excitedly brought their plan before the rest of the village, only to be ridiculed. Some said the were crazy to care about people they didn't even know. Others questioned who was going to pay for it. Still, others thought it was a great idea, but didn't think it was right for them. Undeterred, the men pledged to move forward using their own money and resources.
With in just a few short weeks they were able to get a small signal light built and purchased a rescue boat and equipment.Thus the "Village Rescue Society" ,or the "Village" as the members tended to call it, was born. Over the next few months the group of friends continued to maintain the rescue society. Using their own money they gradually added needed equipment. Thanks to their efforts of keeping the lighthouse lite, no ships were lost to the rocky shoreline.
One night about a year after the Village came in to existence a storm bigger than any of them had ever seen hit the coast. The men rushed to the lighthouse and light the lamp. As they watched the stormy sea, they couldn't help but notice a large ship struggling against the storm. Try as it might, it kept being pushed towards the rocks and certain doom. They quickly ran to the rescue boat and headed to the struggling ship. As they watched helplessly, the ship smashed in to the rocks and slowly started to sink. Thanks to all their planning and hard work they were able to pull everyone from the cold water and not a single soul was lost that night.
Unknown at the time to the members of the rescue society, the wife of the towns mayor was on the ship that night. The mayor was so appreciative of them saving his wife, he sang the praises of the Village Rescue Society to everyone he meet. Due to his praises, the small group of friends started to see more people come join them in tending the lighthouse and maintain the rescue equipment. As more and more people joined, some started to complain that they need to make the appearance of the societies buildings more appealing. While the founding members agreed the lighthouse could use a fresh coat of paint they didn't see a need for the type of renovations being proposed. They suggested using the money instead to upgrade the equipment and maybe even start a new lighthouse to help others further up the coast. The new comers argued if they had fancier buildings and the latest technology, it would draw more people of influence and increase the amount of money available to expand. Reluctantly the founding members agreed to let the new comers make the changes requested.
Over time the new comers kept making improvements and more and more of the leading members of the village started to join the Village society. Gradually they dropped the rescue from their name feeling it deterred from the image their growing club deserved. Eventually the majority of the members no longer remembered the reason the Village was founded.
One night, years after the night the founders had sat around the fire and gave birth to the idea of the rescue society, another big storm hit the coast where the Village sat. As the members watched from the comfort of their cozy clubhouse a ship struggled to reach the harbor. Some argued that someone should do something to help, others questioned why the government wasn't there to take care of everything. While they argued the ship ran aground on the rocks and all aboard were lost.
Sadly, this story can be seen as an analogy for many church's today. In an attempt to be more appealing to the world so as to draw more to Christ, have we lost view of the very reason we are sent? Have we delegated reaching out to the lost to the church, the building/institution, instead of the Church, the body of Christ, the believer?
In Matthew 28:19-20, the great commission, Jesus tells us to "go therefore and make disciples of all nations". This is His commandment to the Church to reach out to the lost and perishing. We are to be reaching out to ALL nations with the message of the gospel. This is not a call to go to a far off country and preach. It is call to be a light to those around us.
We tend to see the word "Nations" and think another country. As used in the bible this word more closely could be translated "People Groups". So what is a people group? A broad description would be a group of people that hold something in common. In the largest sense the human race is a people group. We can break it down from there.......North Americans, Europeans, Asians can all be considered different people groups. Breaking it down a little further the country, state, town, neighborhood you live or were raised in can be considered your people group. These all relate to location, but the idea of a people group can be broken down even further. Those of the same race, ethnic, religious background form people groups. Looking at an even smaller level, those we work with, attend school with, share hobbies/activities with, even our own family can be seen as our people groups.
While some may be called to minister in the jungle of South America, we all are called to minister those around us. We are called to be the Salt and Light of the earth. (see Matthew 5:13-16). It is through our words and actions that those around us will find the path to salvation. We are not that path, but a light that leads them to God.
So the question I pose for you to consider..........Are you one of the founders of the Village, seeking to help those lost and in need, or one of the members looking for someone else to save those who are drowning?
Matthew 28:19-20
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Ruach ha-Kodesh, 20 teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. And remember! I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” TLV
Matthew 5:13-16
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt should lose its flavor, how shall it be made salty again? It is no longer
good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on a lampstand so it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” TLV
Comments
Post a Comment