"He Gave the Ultimate!"

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 6
 
During the helicopter rescue of the survivors from the wrecked Air Florida 737, Paramedic Gene Windsor witnessed the supreme sacrifice of one man in the frigid waters of the Potomac.
Gene passed the safety line out of the helicopter to this man twice, and both times he passed it to other people. After all of the other survivors had been carried to shore, Gene returned to the wreckage in search of the man who had given away the rope. "We had decided that we would go after him if he were within sight, even under water," Gene said. "But he was not there! He had gone under!"
"I've never seen one give such a commitment as he did," Gene continued. "He gave the ultimate!"
This unknown man had sacrificed his life so that others might live. He reminds us of the Lord Jesus Christ who gave His life that you and I might live. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down His life for His friends." John 15:1313Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13). "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).
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).
My Individual Savior
My salvation depends upon my accepting Christ as my individual Savior, just as if He had died for me alone: with David I claim, as he did, "The Lord is my Shepherd." Psalm 23:11<<A Psalm of David.>> The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1).
And, with Paul, my striving is that I may "be found in Him." Philippians 3:99And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (Philippians 3:9). So that when the justice of God demands "Where art thou?" His love may find me safely "hid in Christ."
It is I, as an individual, who deserves His wrath; it is I, as an individual, who am hid in His love.