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Jessica Needs Help
Jessica Needs Help Holy Spirit, Power During the war with Iraq, America's elite Special Forces pulled off two breathtaking rescues of our POWs from behind enemy lines. In the first, Jessica Lynch lay in grave physical condition, with wounds to her head and back and many broken bones. She was way beyond using her skills, wits and training to mastermind an escape. Even if she could crawl to the door, four Iraqi soldiers waited there, armed with AK-47 machine guns. All the strength she could muster was futile. Her only hope was to be rescued. That's exactly where we found ourselves spiritually before our salvation. We were lost, without hope, without the resources or ability to reach heaven on our own. Fortunately, God came to our rescue. As the Apostle Paul put it, ''For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son?'' (Colossians 1:13) Fortunately (or providentially!) for Jessica, an awesome array of Special Forces risked their lives to come for her. After midnight, hundreds of Marines crossed enemy lines and created a diversion south of Jessica's building with artillery and gunfire. Then, several dozen ''door-kickers'' arrived in Black Hawk helicopters provided by Air Force special operations. Army Rangers secured the building. Navy Seals penetrated the hospital. Wearing night goggles, the Seals found her room and whisked her off to a helicopter. But although she was rescued, she knew that she wasn't out of harm's way. On the helicopter, she said, "Please don't let anyone leave me." They never did. Lest you think this desperation for companionship was just a feminine reaction to her ordeal, in a similar rescue of 7 male POWs in Iraq, the rescuers sensed the same need for companionship in the rescued men. So, two Marines were instructed by their commanding officer to accompany the soldiers out of Iraq. As one rescuer said, "We were the first Americans they'd seen since they were captured. They kind of clung to us from the start, so our Commanding Officer figured they needed some familiar faces traveling with them." (1) Spiritually, I have some of the same needs and feelings as these POWs. Sure, I've been rescued from darkness and given a new chance at life. But I don't want to be simply dumped outside the city limits of Baghdad and left to fend for myself. I want someone to accompany me through this life, someone strong enough to take care of me. This is exactly what God has given us in His Holy Spirit. When Jesus readied His disciples for His departure, He assured them that He'd send them a "helper" = "one summoned to the side of another to befriend him, advise him, and if necessary plead his cause." (2) (John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7) "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." (John 14:26, NASB) And more than just hold our hand, He comes to live inside of us!