At Camp Hope at a San Jose Mine in Chile, 33 miners were trapped more than a half-kilometer underground after a mine collapse on August 5. They were not discovered alive until more than two weeks later. They survived underground longer than anyone on record and were rescued last Wednesday when workers lowered a specially built narrow cage down a newly drilled shaft and pulled the miners to safety one by one.
The drama was watched by hundreds of millions of people around the world. It is interesting to note that the whole world seemed to unite behind such a worthy cause.
In Luke 15 the Pharisees and teachers of the law were muttering because Jesus spent His time ministering to sinners. Jesus used this moment as an opportunity to remind them that people who don’t know Him are lost and destined for eternal destruction.
While watching the amazing miner rescue, I could not stop thinking about this teaching of Jesus in Luke 15. In this chapter of Scripture, Jesus responded to their muttering by teaching that a sheep, a coin, and a son were missing. A great celebration broke out after each one was found.
The point Jesus was teaching in Luke 15 is that no mission is more important than finding the lost, especially when it involves saving lives. When something valuable is lost, finding it becomes top priority. A human life is valuable, but a soul is even more precious because it lasts forever while our physical bodies eventually pass away.
Yes, it is crucial to find a lost sheep, coin, son or miner. Finding that which is lost results in wonderful celebrations. Similarly, saving souls is so vital that all of heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents and receives Jesus as his or her Lord and Savior. Jesus said in Luke 15:7: “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
As we celebrate the successful recovery of the 33 Chilean miners, lets remember that Jesus descended from heaven, the ultimate Camp Hope headquarters, to seek and save those who are lost on planet earth. Just as we witnessed during the miner rescue, this is a mission that can unite the world.
Jesus has called us and commissioned us to join Him in the most amazing rescue in the history of the world: the salvation of souls! This must be our top priority!
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