The big plane shook as if it were angry. Andy held the sides with a firm grip as he moved toward the escape hatch. It was just ahead. Some of the thick smoke was being pulled outside by the rushing wind.
The blazing fire lit up the inside, but outside it was a cold and black night over France. Fighter planes and bombers had been fighting for hours. Andy’s soaring Lancaster bomber had been hit, and it was out of control and going down. Andy was in trouble.
Maybe you know somebody who is in trouble because he or she is still lost in their sins. Are you one? or will you give them this paper to read so they will know the way of escape? “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)).
The engines that were still working roared. Suddenly above the roar Andy heard banging at the back of the big bomber. Somebody was calling for help! As he strained to see through the smoke, the orange flames lit up the frightened face of his friend. He was the rear gunner and he was trapped in his seat by a broken door.
Andy never hesitated. He went back to help, crawling through the fierce danger of fire and smoke. I wonder at the amazing heroism of Andy Mynarski. He was one of 13 Canadians who won the Victoria Cross for valor in World War II.
His story reminds me of how the Lord Jesus came into our unfriendly and sinful world. He came for one reason - to be the Saviour for sinners. He knew what He would have to do and what would happen. There were no surprises. He knew He would die on a cruel cross, bearing the punishment for sinners. But He never hesitated. Do you wonder what made Him do it? It was His deep, deep love for you and me. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son [Jesus] to be the propitiation [full remedy] for our sins” (1 John 4:1010Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)).
The trapped gunner and Andy fought with the broken door. As the fire burned closer the gunner motioned him away. “Save yourself,” he yelled, as the doomed plane rushed toward the dark ground.
With his clothes on fire, Andy stood in the escape hatch and paused to salute his friend. Then he jumped out. What sorrow must have filled his heart. He had suffered much, yet he could not save his friend. He was so helpless and unable. He had the love and desire to save, but not the power.
Have you ever read the wonderful words of Hebrews 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25) about the Lord Jesus? “HE IS ABLE . . . to save them to the uttermost [completely] that come unto God by Him.” These are words of victory. They plead with us to turn to Him with our dark burden of sin and its awful, eternal results.
Poor Andy was unable to save his friend, or himself. He was severely burned and died shortly after parachuting to the ground. His friend survived the crash of the bomber, but was taken prisoner.
We are touched by this story of love unto death. But the Saviour gave His life that we might live. Not only has He loved us, but He has the power to save us right now and for all eternity. He cannot fail.
Your burden of sin is not too great for Jesus. He did not save Himself but died to save us. He took the blame and punishment for our sins so that we might be forgiven. “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)).
Will you let Him save you?
ML-05/03/1998