Parson to Person: Christ - our real rescuer

We?ve made it to the end of October and that means Halloween is almost here. If you haven?t purchased your Halloween candy yet (or need to restock because you ate the first bag), now?s the time. Costumed kids will soon be swarming neighborhoods in search of sugary treasure.

I have fond memories of trick-or-treating as a kid. Halloween was the opportunity to dress up like one of my heroes. Back then my heroes were professional athletes, movie characters, and comic book superheroes. With a plastic mask and mom?s home-sewn cape, I transformed and became Superman, Batman,or even Darth Vader.

Eventually we grow up and get too old for trick-or-treating. What we don?t outgrow is our need for heroes. As we mature, we stop looking to heroes who can fly, drive Batmobiles, or wield lightsabers. Yet we do still look to ones who can save the day, rescue from danger, and deliver us from evil. We sense that things are not the way they are supposed to be, and that somewhere, there must be someone who could make things right.

We sense we need a rescuer, but we get confused about what we need rescued from. For example, in times of financial stress, we might think our problem is economic insecurity and thus look for a hero who can reduce our debts. When our bodies break down and sickness finds its way into our homes, we may look for a hero who can eliminate suffering. Or when the world around us seems to be falling apart, and the powers that be no longer seem to be using their powers for good, we might look for a political hero. These are real problems, ones that cause anxiety, pain, and hopelessness. But these are only symptoms of a greater problem. And as you might expect a pastor to say, our fundamental problem is a spiritual one. Fortunately, there is a hero that can make things right. Not a fictional hero who momentarily distracts our attention from reality, but a real-life hero--a rescuer.

Two millennia ago the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to encourage a group of people he had never met. In it Paul said, ?He (God) has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Jesus), in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins? (Col. 1:13-14, ESV). From Paul?s perspective, our fundamental problem is one of sin resulting in alienation from God our creator. Paul describes this state of spiritual separation as living in ?darkness.? But there?s hope. He also spoke of a Hero - a Rescuer-God?s beloved Son, Jesus. This Hero is no caped crusader; he?s a redeemer and reconciler. Those who trust in him find themselves transferred out of a life of darkness into the kingdom ruled by God?s Son.

This Halloween when costumed kids come to your door dressed as their heroes and requesting your treats, remember we still need heroes, and by God?s grace there is one who can save us from darkness - a rescuer.