The young girl did not know her rescuer’s name. After slipping into the swift waters of the Cowlitz River, she had struggled to keep her head up, but irresistibly the strong current swept her downstream. Panic flooded through her, for the river was much too strong. Then seeing her distress, a young man swam out to save her. Swimming strongly, he pulled her to shore. Onlookers gathered to help on the bank of the river and waded out a few steps. The young man passed the girl to them, and, while coughing up water, she was carried to shore. The onlookers were taken by surprise when they turned around and watched the current of the river sweep the young man away. Stunned, they saw him disappear beneath the roiling surface. The river carried him away to his death.
Alan Heck was his name. He was only twenty years old. He didn’t know the girl. He only knew she needed help. He put his own life at risk to save hers. Later, Captain Nelson of the sheriff’s department called the rescue, “Incredibly heroic — I am not sure it was his intention to give up his own life for the girl, but he selflessly went into the water.”
Alan Heck was a genuine hero to save the young girl’s life. Do you know the Hero who gave His life for you that you might live? His name is the Lord Jesus Christ. And when He saw the human race being swept headlong in a raging river of sin to eternal death, He didn’t stand by and just watch. He did something about it.
He left the glories of heaven and came to this earth. He never wavered from His purpose to make a way of salvation. At the cross, He selflessly gave His life so that others might live. He went into the river of death so that sinners caught in its awful current might have a way to escape. They deserved death for the sins they had done, but He came and died in the sinner’s place so that they might find life through Him.
Alan Heck gave his life to save the girl. Jesus Christ went to Calvary’s cross to make a way to save mankind. Both died for others, but permit me to highlight some important differences.
First, Alan Heck didn’t know the name of the young girl he rescued. However, the Lord Jesus knows all the names of those He died for. He is God and Man in the same person. As God, His knowledge is perfect. He not only knows their names but also everything else about them. He knows the full extent of their sins, and notwithstanding this knowledge He still loves them so much that He was willing to die for them. “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)). Can you not find it in your heart to trust a Saviour who knows all about you and was still willing to die for you?
Second, Alan “reacted” when he saw the girl in distress and swam out to save her. It might seem that the Lord Jesus “reacted” when He saw sinners in danger and decided to save them, but this isn’t really the case. He knew man would rebel against Him before the first man was ever made. He also knew that in love to lost sinners He would give His life at Calvary. When Christ died on the cross, He was carrying out the plan of salvation which had been made “proactively” before the world existed. Whatever God does, He does in a way that is full of wisdom. Nothing takes Him by surprise. His plans are the best plans, and His ways are the best ways. “There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:3030There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord. (Proverbs 21:30)). Since resistance is useless, it would be best for you to give up fighting against Him and, instead, come to Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
Alan’s body was recovered from the river nine days later. The body of the Lord Jesus will never be recovered. The Lord Jesus arose from the dead. Many of His disciples saw Him in His resurrection body before He ascended up into heaven. Do you want irrefutable proof that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Here it is — His empty grave. He was slain, buried and rose again on the third day. Everyone who places their faith in Christ will likewise have their part in the resurrection of the just. They will live, eternally live, in the sunshine of God’s love. Never a cloud or shadow will ever dim that love. Jesus Christ said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:2525Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:25)).
Alan Heck acted courageously and saved a young life at the cost of his own. It cost the life of the Lord Jesus given at Calvary’s cross that you might have eternal life. Can you not find it in your heart to trust the Saviour who at great cost did so much that you might be saved from your sins?