A few years ago, after a Russian coal mine collapsed, the news reported that 106 workers died, four were still missing, and one survived. ONE survived.
Just for a moment, I tried to put myself in the shoes of that ONE man. How would I feel if I were the only one who walked out of that mine? How would I handle it? How would my life change? It’s difficult to imagine.
And yet, by God’s grace, that is what has happened to us who follow Jesus. Out of the billions of people on this planet, God has chosen you to walk out of this collapsing world into the safety and beauty of heaven. Why you? Why me? Why any of us? It’s certainly not because we’re any better than the rest. In fact, if we think so, that’s the sin of arrogance; maybe it’s a different sin, but sin nonetheless. It’s not that we’re more talented than the rest or have so much more potential. In fact, Paul writes, “1 Corinthians 1:26-30 26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus…” Notice, “It is because of HIM.” It is because of God’s mercy that he chose you from eternity to experience His grace. It is because of Him that you know forgiveness and purpose. It is because of Him that you will walk out of this collapsing mine someday.
Actually, the neat thing is that this worldly mine hasn’t fully collapsed yet. There are still more people trapped alive and in desperate need of deliverance. We know the mine well and, more importantly, the way out.
Why you? Why me? Why any of us? In part, it’s to go back in and bring others out.
