1310. Saving the Life

Saving the Life

"We are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul" (Heb_10:39).

There are many who imagine that Christians must give up everything that makes life worth the while; that Christians lose their lives. Our key verse, however, insists that when we believe, we save the life. The Greek word signifies "preservation"–we believe unto the preservation of our lives.

1. Two hundred and sixty-six lives saved. A Euroclydon was sweeping over the Mediterranean. A ship had been caught by the wind, and the captain was letting her drive. For fourteen days the boat was carried before the storm, until everyone aboard despaired of their life.

Then the Apostle Paul said, "Sirs, * * I exhort you, to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship" (Act_27:21-22).

When the ship ran aground and the fore part stuck fast, and remained unmovable, and the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves; then, they who were aboard ship and could swim cast themselves first into the sea and got to land, and the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. "And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land" (Act_27:44).

All of this meant salvation from physical death, it meant that two hundred and sixty-six lives were permitted to continue to make history.

2. Three thousand lives saved. The Apostle Peter had been preaching at Pentecost. Multitudes were before him, and he urged them to repent and to be baptized. We read the wonderful result: "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls (lives)" (Act_2:41).

These lives were saved from eternal death, they were saved unto a new service, they began to make history for God. What a blessed salvation!

3. Christ came to save men's lives.

"For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them" (Luk_9:56).

Jesus Christ wants us to believe in Him unto the saving of the life (see 1Pe_1:9).

Let us commit the keeping of our lives unto Him as unto a faithful Creator (see 1Pe_4:19).

Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd Who cares for the life of His sheep (see Joh_10:11-13).

Wherefore let us, who were as sheep going astray; return unto the Shepherd and the Bishop of our lives (see 1Pe_2:25).

From these Scriptures we know that Christ saves the life, keeps the life, cares for the life, and shepherds the life.

A life is safe in His hands. Let us who believe Him commit to Him our lives for time and for eternity.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR