Standing on the muddy bank of a canal near Miami, Florida, Jim Polowy saw bubbles coming up from a car which had just plunged into the murky water.
Jim and his wife saw the accident happen as they were driving to the airport for a flight to their home in Chicago. Graciela Rodriguez, the driver of the car that nose-dived into the water, had lost control when the car’s hood flew open, blocking her view.
“We quickly turned our car around and went back,” Jim recalled. “I knew that I was going to have to go in after her, so I took my wedding ring off and got my wallet out of my pocket.”
“Everyone was saying Jim was crazy to go into that water,” his wife added. “It was black and deep and full of snakes and alligators! But nobody else among the 50 people who stopped seemed to want to help.”
This story reminds me of the story of the good Samaritan that is found in the Bible in Luke 10:30-3530And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. (Luke 10:30‑35). The Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is pictured as the Samaritan who helped the poor man who was robbed and beaten by thieves and left to die. At least two other men passed by him, but they could not, or did not want to help him. They did not have the love that was needed to help the poor man who could not help himself. The only person who could help him was the Samaritan, a stranger from another land. It was he who in love to the poor man chose to help him.
It is just the same with us as sinners. It is only God, in His own love to sinners such as you and me, who can save us, because we are helpless. There is no one else who can help us. “For there is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12).
The Lord Jesus Christ is that good Samaritan, that “Stranger” who has come to poor sinners like us, and has done all that could be done to save us. He became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich (2 Cor. 8:99For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)).
He changes places with the wounded traveler, getting down from His own horse and setting the wounded man on it, and arranges to take care of him.
As Jim pulled off his shoes, someone called to him from the crowd standing around, “Don’t worry about your clothes, son, save a life!” Although his good clothes and his flight to Chicago that he was about to miss were on his mind, Jim dove into the 15 feet of black water to try to find the car. Coming up for air, he dove again and again. On the fourth dive he finally came back up with the young lady in tow and pulled her to shore.
“I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face in that water,” he said later. “I didn’t think I was going to find the car. I was amazed when I touched it.”
Although nearly exhausted and out of air, Jim forced open the car door and found the unconscious driver.
On the shore they found Graciela not breathing and apparently in shock. Others gave her artificial respiration until the paramedics could take over.
Jim’s quick action and the equipment and training of the paramedics saved her life. After a short hospital stay she was released in good health.
Graciela’s life was saved because of Jim’s concern and quick action. There were 50 other people around who either could not or would not help. We may ask why, and not come up with a very good answer. But how many of us who are saved are standing around seeing people going on in their sins towards hell, and are not trying to rescue them. Christ loved us, He was punished on the cross for our sins, and His blood shed there has washed all our sins away. We have everlasting life because of His love and work. But are we telling others about this good news? Are we concerned enough to “not worry about our clothes and save a life?”
ML-09/12/1982