Ephesians 2:1-10, Matthew 7:24-27

Clive Urquhart reflects on William Booth's life and what our response should be to Jesus' call to help rescue those who are lost

Clive Urquhart

'What you are now is in direct contrast to what you used to be. Once you were spiritually dead because your lives were full of sin and disobedience to God's Word. That is how you used to live, when you lived according to the world's standards, because you were subject to God's enemy, belonged to his negative kingdom of darkness and were controlled by the spirit who still works in the disobedient. All of us at one time shared in that ungodly lifestyle, longing to satisfy our flesh. We all sought to gratify our fleshly desires and sin filled much of our thinking. Just like everybody else, we were subjects of God's anger because of our sinful disposition. Despite all this, because of His great love for us, God who is so rich in mercy actually brought us to life with Christ, even when we were spiritually dead because of our sins. What a wonderful work of His grace to save us out of the death and darkness of sin, out of the hands of the evil one we once served!' Ephesians 2:1-5

Seated with Christ

'Now He has actually raised us up with Christ and sees us seated with Him in heavenly places because He has placed us in Christ Jesus. He has done this so that in the future we might demonstrate that the riches of His grace are so immense that nothing can be compared to such riches. And this grace has been shown to us because of His kindness towards us, expressed in all Christ Jesus has done for us.' Ephesians 2:6-7

Saved by His grace

'You see, it is only because of His grace that you have been saved. All you did was to put your faith in His willingness to be merciful and gracious towards you. So your salvation is not anything you could possibly have worked out for yourselves; it is completely God's gift to you. You can never boast that you achieved acceptance by God through the works you have performed. The truth is that we are the work of God's own hands. Now we live in Christ Jesus, we are able to do the good works that are the evidence of our salvation. It is good to know that these are the very works that God planned and prepared for us to accomplish!' Ephesians 2:8-10 (The Truth Version)

I love these verses as they are a constant encouragement of the amazing work Jesus has done for us and the totally new life that He has given us in Him. He did not hold anything back from us; He gave absolutely everything of Himself for us so that we could be forgiven, set free and brought into an incredible relationship with Him.

Jesus speaks of those who hear His words and put them into practice being like a wise man who builds his house on the rock. The rock stays firm and un-moved no matter what storms or challenges occur; therefore lives built on the rock of His word will stand firm and not fall (Matthew 7:24-27).

William Booth, who started the Salvation Army in 1865, had a vision while on a journey one day that was to shake his life and ministry. He saw a very dark stormy scene with huge waves rising and falling. In the waves he saw people rising and falling; people from all walks of life who were captive to many different kinds of sin, pain and abuse. He heard their cries for someone to rescue them, but no one could be found.

As he continued to watch the scene, a huge rock began to rise out of the water. A few people managed to climb up onto the rock to safety, but many couldn't reach it; the waves were too strong.

He noticed on the rock there were many others who were already safe, having been rescued some time before; but the thing that got his attention were the many people already on the rock who did not hear the cries from those in the stormy waters, or even if they did, they didn't seem to be interested in helping them. Those on the rock had got used to life on the rock; their friendships, family, business, hobbies, sports and interests; even church. They seemed to have forgotten what they had been rescued from themselves and what it was once like to be in the stormy waters of lostness.

Then he noticed in the water someone calling to the people on the rock to come out of their comfort and familiar surroundings into the water to help him rescue the people. He suddenly realised it was Jesus in the water calling all those who say they follow Him to join with Him in rescuing the many drowning people. Some on the rock responded. They began to throw ropes into the water; others put ladders down for people to climb up on; others put boats onto the water and others simply jumped in to grab people and haul them onto the rock. Many lives were being saved and rescued as a result.

The verses we read at the beginning remind us of the incredible life that we have in Christ; a life that is victorious, overcoming and powerful. There are many people who still do not have this amazing life that God so earnestly wants them to have. I believe God is encouraging and challenging us not to simply live and enjoy life on the rock, but to hear the call from Jesus in the sea of lostness, to come and help Him in the rescue of the many friends, family, work colleagues and others who do not know Him. I believe He wants us to take this victorious, overcoming life to those who do not have it and see them rescued onto the rock with us.

Let's be those who hear and respond to the call from Jesus. Let's pray for His heart for those who do not know Him. Let's take the life and power that God has given us and join with Him in rescuing others today and every day.

Be very blessed and fruitful.