Risking the Rescue

In 1826, when Grace Darling was 10 years old, she and her family moved to Longstone Lighthouse on the Farne Islands in Northumberland, England. Her father, William Darling, was the lighthouse keeper– this was very hard work. The lantern had to be kept burning all the time. On September 7, 1838, Grace spotted a shipwreck and survivors offshore. The crew of the SS Forfarshire had been driven onto some rocks by fierce winds and formidable waves.

Together, Grace and her father courageously rowed their boat a mile through rough waters to rescue the surviving crew. Nearly all sixty passengers died, except nine crew members and one passenger who escaped in the Darling’s lifeboat. Grace and her father took the survivors back to the Longstone lighthouse, where they tended to their wounds and cared for them for 3 days, until the storm finally passed.

​In the English world, Grace became a legend for her compassionate heart and steady hand in risking her life to rescue others. Tales of her bravery even reached Queen Victoria. Sadly, Grace died young, only 26 years old, in October of 1842 from tuberculosis.  

Grace’s example made me think of a couple of Scriptures about risk and rescue. Remember, the parable that Jesus told about the daring shepherd who left his fold of ninety-nine sheep to seek after the one lost lamb (Luke 15:1-7). Then there is the episode from Paul’s life where we wrote of Priscila and Aquila who, “risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles” (Rom. 16:3-4).

We are not told exactly what “risk” Paul was referring to, but with beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks, and threats of death so common to Paul’s ministry, it’s not hard to see how this couple could have put themselves in harm’s way to help their friend. Rescuing others—whether from physical or spiritual danger—often carries a risk. The shepherd could have lost the rest of his flock while searching for the one. Priscila and Aquila could have been jailed or worse for trying to help Paul. The Good Samaritan that Jesus spoke of staked his reputation, finances and safety to take care of the wounded man on the road to Jericho (Luke 10:29-37).

The spiritual lesson here is that when we get involved in the ministry of the church there will be risks and things will get messy. Many people will not understand our compassion and some may even criticize us, it happened to Jesus often (Matt. 11:19). There will also be a cost entailed on our part—it will involve time, money and the added frustration of having your schedule thrown by the wayside to meet the needs of others. When you put yourself out there, there is the rick that your heart may be hurt later when the people who you are trying to help seem to make progress, then lapse back into old habits.  

Paul spoke of another risk involved—the creeping influence of pride. In Galatians 6:1-2 he warned, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” In the process of the rescue we can become victims of our ego which would dupe us into believing that the sins which so easily ensnare others are not a hazard to us.

The risks are real, but the reward is even greater. Think of all the souls that have been snatched off the shipwrecked debris of a sinful life and restored by Christ, simply because someone cared enough to take the risk. Not only is there the thrill of the seeing someone have their life turned around (Luke 15:7), but one day there will be eternal rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Thess. 2:19-20). A compadre and crown in heaven for risking the rescue, what could be greater than that? -DM