Intervention Needed and Provided

Mid-August 2005 was a study in contrasts. First, there was the successful rescue of the seven men in the trapped Russian submersible. That had people rejoicing! Then the week ended with memorials to the 118 men who died when the Russian submarine Kursk had an accident and sank five years ago.

In both incidents, men were trapped in a submarine that could not surface. In both, the trapped men behaved very well and bravely. In both they had air for several days. And in both the Russian Navy did not have the equipment to rescue them.

With all the similarities, why did one group live while the other group died? The two incidents had one very big difference. In the Kursk incident, the Russian Navy did not ask for any help until it was too late. In the recent accident where the small submarine was trapped by wires and nets, the Russian Navy asked for international help in time. The request and receipt of outside intervention made all the difference.

I reflected on this: the sailors utter helplessness, their absolute dependence on outside intervention, and the humility involved in accepting that intervention on the part of the Russian government. Suddenly, I realized how much we are like those sailors.

We are all in a terrible predicament with dire consequences and no way to help ourselves. In fact left to ourselves we often just make it worse. Simply put this predicament we are in involves sin and of course sin ends in judgment. Paul wrote these comments about this, "For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; ... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," {Romans 2:12; 3:23} Paul then goes on with this statement that sums up the helplessness and despair of sin in our lives,"Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" {Romans 7:24}

In Romans Paul demonstrates that everyone sins, therefore everyone is under judgment, and cannot get out from or escape this predicament on his own. We can do as much to rescue ourselves as those Russian sailors could: nothing!

Fortunately that is not the end of the story. While we cannot do anything, if outside intervention happened we could be saved. And something special did happen, again from Paul, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." {Romans 6:23} God intervened in a dramatic and effective way in Jesus Christ, God the Son's life, death on the cross, and resurrection.

The one "catch" to this, if you want to call it that, is the fact we have to accept this gift, this intervention, for it to take effect in our lives. The British and American governments could offer intervention, but the offer did no good until it was requested and accepted. That is why the Bible repeatedly urges us to repent and believe. Because of this intervention we know that no one needs to live in sin and end up under judgment. Will you accept God's intervention?

Think seriously about God's love for you, His offer to you, and thank Him for everything.

Written by Rev. Daniel B. Baker August 2005



Articles by Rev. Daniel B. Baker :: Webmaster: Joseph I. Baker