At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:16-18, NASB)
Among the aircraft I flew during my time in the United States Air Force were the A-7D and the A-10. Both were/are primarily ground attack aircraft. In both aircraft I was checked out and qualified to fly a mission called Combat Search and Rescue, or CSAR. The objective of CSAR is to rescue downed Airmen or isolated Soldiers, usually behind enemy lines.
CSAR called for us to fly a two-ship teamed with one or more rescue helicopters. Our task was to protect the helicopters from ground threats. Since we flew faster than the helos, we had to fly so as not to get ahead of them. To do this we flew in a maneuver called a “Daisy Chain.” We would fly a counterclockwise, circular pattern around the helos as they went forward, with my wingman on the opposite side of the circle. While we flew, we would watch the ground for any threats to the helos, and when necessary, be in position to bring the aircraft’s gatling gun to bear, and eliminate the threat.
As a fighter pilot, it was comforting to know that if I had to bail out behind enemy lines, there were people who would try to come find me. They would risk life and limb, and move heaven and earth to come to my rescue. We have a God who does the same thing: He will do anything to rescue us!
Above we see an excerpt from the second letter from the Apostle Paul to his spiritual son and protege, Timothy. He writes from jail, probably in Rome. He laments that people have abandoned him, but he is grateful that the God he serves will never do the same. Further, his God will rescue him from all evil, and bring him to eternal life and fellowship with Him! Paul knows that God loves the world so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die for us.
Indeed, Jesus Christ left the comfort and honor of His heavenly home. He came to the earth He created, on the greatest rescue mission in history. He came to rescue you and me. In this scenario, we all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. The only deed we can do that is acceptable to God is to believe in His Son. His most precious gift, His Son, is the ultimate rescue attempt. Far above the sense of urgency of our CSAR forces is God’s love for us, that He would die in our place.
Have you called on the name of the Lord Jesus to come and rescue you? He has rescued me!
To all veterans and their families: Happy Veterans Day! Thank you for your service and your sacrifice!
Worship: “Rescue,” by Lauren Daigle