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Down a blizzard covered, two-lane road, the police officer told me, “You will have to proceed on foot from here. There is no traffic coming in or out for four miles.”

So I started off on foot, passing cars and trucks stuck on the side of the road. Some people were walking and some were waiting for help in their cars. Even families that had powerful 4-wheel-drives were helpless, buried in the snow and shocked that their truck could not get freed. There were emergency trucks ahead and the snow was coming down so hard I could barely see the road.

My wife was stranded out on this road along with dozens of other people trying to get unstuck. As I walked by people, they rolled their window down and asked, “Is the road going to open or are there tow trucks coming?” I made some small talk but had to keep moving. I was not dressed for this weather and I did not know how far I had to go to find my wife.

I began to think to myself, “Look at all these people stranded, helpless, trying to get out of this mess.” Some people were out for themselves. I must have walked close to two miles in heavy, blowing snow, wearing a thin motorcycle jacket, thin riding gloves, and no hat. No one even stopped to ask me if I needed a lift—instead they were looking to me to help them. This was the strangest situation to be in.

After 45 minutes of walking, a couple in a 4-wheel-drive Jeep pulled over and asked, “How about a lift?” I did not wait a second to get in, thanking them for the ride. Up ahead, two more cars were spinning out of control, but the powerful Jeep had no problem making it up the hill. Finally, we made it to my wife and I thanked them for their kindness. I wished them well and God bless. I realized that this whole one-hour experience is how life can be.

Sometimes we can be on our way to rescue someone, but in the end we end up needing to be rescued. Have you ever been in a situation or circumstance where you rescued someone or you needed to be rescued? Have you ever felt like you needed someone to stop and offer you help and they just kept going?

Jesus spent his whole earthly ministry rescuing people out of sickness, depression, sin, despair, and even death. Then, there came a moment in the life of Jesus when he needed to be rescued, but instead of being rescued, Jesus chose to rescue us.

Luke 23:39-43 says,

³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” ⁴⁰ But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” ⁴³ And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

The thief who chose to put his faith in Jesus found grace and forgiveness. Jesus promised that they would be together. This man did not have time to quit drinking or drugs—he did not have time to do any good deeds. He only had a moment to repent, believe and receive Jesus’ promise of forgiveness and eternal life.

Have you been stranded by circumstances, relationships, financial crisis, emotional stress, or religion? Have past hurts left you feeling stranded on the side of the road of life? Jesus is coming up alongside you and offering “How about a lift?” Will you get in or keep walking the cold road ahead?

The Bible says in Romans 10:9-10,

⁹ That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; ¹⁰ for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Are you ready to get rescued? Are you tired of being stranded? Then turn to God, putting your entire trust in Jesus Christ.

If you want Jesus to rescue you, you can express your heart’s desire through a prayer like this: “Dear Jesus, I believe that you are the Savior of the world and that God sent you to live the perfect life that I could not live. I believe that you died on the cross for me and paid the full price for all my sins. I believe that three days later, God raised you from the dead and that You are alive right now. So I ask you to be my personal Savior and come into my heart and save me right now. Thank you Jesus for saving me.”

If you just put your faith and trust in Jesus to save you, then you are not stranded anymore. Reach out to a local Bible-believing church or ministry  and find like-minded people who love Jesus. Read the Bible “like you stole it” as some bikers say. God bless and Jesus saves.

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