Rescue the Perishing

The forecast for tonight is a hard frost.  This means pretty much any remnants of the warm seasons will soon be history.  The bed of snapdragons in our front yard provided a nice array of color all summer, but lately really decided to flourish.  At a time the plants appeared to be done blooming, I decided to cut off all the "dead heads" to see what would happen.  The combination of this process and no heavy frosts has made for a real bright spot amid our fall colors.

 

 

Not wanting to say my final farewell to their beauty, I decided to cut and bring in the remaining flowers with plans to place them into bouquets to share with others around town.  Twice I had to go back inside the house for another container to put them in.

 

 

It took some time, but eventually all the leaves and wilted flowers were removed, leaving me with quite the assortment to work with when it comes time to create the bouquets.  Looking at the clock, this may be a project for tomorrow!

 

 

As I was working with the flowers, a song kept going through my mind.  "Rescue the perishing, care for the dying. . . "  It is an old hymn of the church written by Fannie Crosby back in 1869.  A quick search on Goggle provided the rest of the words to the song:

 

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save. 

 

Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,
Waiting the penitent child to receive;
Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
He will forgive if they only believe.

 

Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.

 

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.

 

Refrain:Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

 

 

Somehow, as I worked with the flowers, there was a bigger picture unfolding.  Much like the flowers growing in the yard, people living without Jesus in their lives are simply going about their business, unaware of the pending doom.  For the flowers, death would surely come from exposure to cold temperatures.  But for the life facing death without acknowledging Jesus as Savior, a different temperature awaits them in the fire of hell. 

 

As I sorted through the piles of flowers, there were buds not yet opened, flowers in full bloom and other blossoms which were showing the withered signs of age.  In the same way, people of all ages face the possibility of their life's end at any moment.  None of us is guaranteed tomorrow.

 

According to the forecast, the night ahead brings with it impending doom for the snapdragons.  Because of my care and concern, their life will be extended because I rescued them.  Tonight the question at hand is not so much about my flowers, however, but about what awaits YOU in eternity.  Have you been rescued by Jesus Christ, our Savior?  As the song says, He is waiting for each of us to believe and receive the forgiveness He freely offers. 

 

The snapdragons will now have a few more days to spread their beauty, but how wonderful it is to have the assurance my soul has been rescued not only for today and tomorrow, but for all of eternity.  Praying you, too, will be among those who say "Yes, I believe" to Jesus!