VBS Graduation Message 2018

Introduction:

Just a few weeks ago, the world was watching how 12 boys and their soccer coach would be rescued from a cave in Thailand.

The boys, ages 11-16, went missing on June 23 and rescuers had no idea whether they were in the cave or still alive.

They were in the cave for 18 days, without light and running low on food. It became more urgent because rescuers were wondering if there was going to be another storm that would make the waters rise making it more difficult to rescue these children as they were at least 6 miles in.

How did they get into the cave?

Reporters say that it may have been curiosity after their practice or some type of initiation rite where they could see who could go the farthest to touch deep inside the cave.

One sea diver lost his life in attempt to rescue these children.

Praise God that after 18 days, all the boys are rescued and reunited with their families.

Parable

On a spiritual level, the Bible tells us that we need rescue. Because of sin, we have put ourselves in a situation we can’t get out of. And unless someone comes for us, we are doomed to live in darkness and experience eternal death.

Why do we need rescue?

Who can rescue us?

Will you call the rescuer?

Scripture:

Colossians 1:13–14 ESV

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

I. Why do we need rescue?

I asked myself how did these boys get into this cave in the first place?

How did they get into the cave?

Reporters say that it may have been curiosity after their practice or some type of initiation rite where they could see who could go the farthest to touch deep inside the cave.

In other words, they were just being curious boys and they didn’t think that their hike could be dangerous because of the flood waters and storm.

You see, the Bible gives us commands, not because God is an oppressive or cruel God, but so it can prevent us from making foolish decisions and make us face consequences we cannot overcome.

A. We need rescue from ourselves

Like the young boys, we too often make foolish decisions. God tells us we shouldn’t do something, and we do it anyways because we think we know better.

B. We need rescue from sin

Sin makes us do stupid things. When we don’t obey God, we are trapped in a cave that can lead us into darkness and ultimately death.

C. We need rescue from God

Because God is a holy God and will not tolerate sin, he must deal justly with us. And we must pay God the debt we owe to God for rebelling against Him on a daily basis. To sin against a inifinitly great being, is to warrant an infinite debt.

II. Who can rescue us?

Every religious teacher teaches that rescue comes from some form of self. In other words, the only person who can rescue you is yourself. Americans are taught that if you want something, you need to work hard for it and pull up your boot straps if you want to make something happen great in your life.

Buddha taught that the key to successful living is just by rejecting your desires and if you follow the eight fold path of right views, speech, action, mindfulness and the others, you can achieve enlightenment.

Islam teaches if you obey the will of Allah and make it your intention to submit to the five pillars of Islam, than God will accept you.

You see, with every world religion, rescue comes with yourself or your own effort.

Here is where Christianity differs and stands in a class of its own.

Rescue comes from God alone through grace alone by faith alone.

What makes Christianity unique is that only God can save us because only God can pay our infinite debt we owe to him.

So God becomes a man to take the punishment we deserve, and pay the debt we cannot pay back to God. And three days later, he rises again from the dead that all who turn from their sins and trust in the Son, will be rescued from themselves, from their sin, and from God’s wrath.

Christianity is unique in that rescue comes not from within, but from outside of you.

Someone from the outside, who is in the light, has to come into the cave of darkness, to bring you out back into the light.

And like the Sea Diver who lost his life in attempt to rescue the children, Jesus too, lost his life to rescue us from our sins so that we can be delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in who we have redemption the forgiveness of sins.

Transition: Why do we need rescue? Sin make us do stupid and foolish things. Who can rescue us? Jesus, the Son of God, who was born of a virgin, lived perfectly, on the cross experience darkness when God turned away from Him, and who satisfied the wrath of God, by rising again from the dead, can rescue you if you repent and believe in him by faith.

III. Will you call for the rescuer?

The way you get saved is not by working harder or becoming a better person, although believe in Christ will result in you working harder and making you a better person, but the way you get rescued is by faith.

Faith is holding on to the rescuer. Faith is putting your hand to the rescuers hand and letting him lead you out of the cave of sin and darkness.

Faith is trusting Him that He knows the way out and He will get you out.

So for those of you who do not know Christ, I pray you will cry out for rescue. You will cry out for Jesus.

Jesus offers hope to all people no matter where you have been. Jesus can rescue you if you think you are the worst person on the planet, and Jesus can rescue you from your self-righteousness if you think you are the greatest person the planet.