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When I was a little girl I used to look up to people who were older and wiser than me. My parents raised me to respect my elders… well, really to treat everyone with respect.

I remember riding the neighbor's pony one day when I was probably 4 or 5 years old when a bee stung the pony and it began to gallop much faster than I was used to. Being such a young girl with very little experience on horses, I was scared to death and started crying and probably even yelling for help – when one of the boys in my neighborhood who was walking along the street jumped out of the bushes and grabbed the pony and got him to stop. My family jokes with me about it today, because I boldly, yet admiringly said to him, "You're my hero!"

I suppose the joke is that the horse wasn't really going that fast and I was probably never in any real danger, but the mind can be a powerful thing. In my mind, I was in danger and in need of someone to save me.

Funny how that plays out in books, movies, and TV shows in today's society. You know the story…there's always a damsel in distress, faced with some sort of evil, waiting for someone to come and "rescue" her. I suppose most of us women could blame our need for being "rescued" on the movies we watched as little girls where the "knight in shining armor" rides up on a white horse and saves the day.

But here I am today, 36 years old. I have a wonderful job that allows me to support myself. I buy my own groceries, pump my own gas, cook my own food, and do my own laundry – heck, I can even use a drill. Rescued? Rescued from what? I'm doing okay on my own. So, I'm not so sure I need to be rescued. I've given up on the fairy tale of being rescued by a "knight in shining armor" riding up on hiswhite horse.

But it doesn't mean my life didn't need saving. I'm dying. We all are. None of us know when it will happen, but it will happen. It's a given. Here's the choice, die apart from God. (Yes, I believe Hell is a very real place.) Or die and be with God for all eternity.

I don't believe we have this verse in Luke to scare us to death, but I believe it should scare us "of death apart from God." There are many references in Scripture of hell, Hades, and the lake of fire – just to name a few. From what I've read about it, it's not a place I'd care to go. And guess what? You don't have to go there. It's your choice.

Eternal life! With God! Now you're talking. He saved my life. Not only have I accepted Him as my personal Lord and Savior, but I've given Him my very life. I know my tomorrow is secure. I can live for today – looking for ways to enjoy Him and being in His presence.

Do you find yourself in need of being "rescued?" Are you waiting for that "knight in shining armor" to ride up and save you? Don't buy into the fairy tale. You'll always end up being disappointed. Instead, turn to the real "hero" of our world… Jesus Christ. He's the man who died so that you could have the choice of spending eternity apart from God or with God.

So, if there is a longing in your heart for being "rescued" – realize it's really the need to be "saved" and there's only one who can do that – His name is Jesus. He's calling you.

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Mercy and not Sacrifice (October 4, 2010)