Rick Rescorla directed security for Morgan Stanley, the largest employer in Tower Two at the World Trade Center. After the Trade Center bombing in 1993, Rick Rescorla urged authorities to prepare for another attack, including one from the air. Repeatedly, he trained the Morgan Stanley employees “how to be saved” from a disaster he felt was coming.
And come it did – the moment that jetliner crashed into Tower One. Even when there seemed to be “no real reason to get out,” Morgan Stanley employees began evacuating even before Tower Two was hit. As both towers were burning out of control, Rick Rescorla continued to go from floor to floor, looking for people who needed to be rescued. His final words to his wife on the phone – and his final words to a company executive – were, “I have to get everyone out.” Rick Rescorla died that day at Ground Zero. But he is credited with saving the lives of some 2,700 people!
On September 11, lives were saved – for another twenty, forty, maybe fifty years – because one man was willing to sacrifice his life so others could live. Two thousand years ago, another Man made that same choice – except His sacrifice means lives saved forever.
On that awful Friday on Skull Hill, heaven’s Prince hung on a cross and was cut off from God so we would not have to be. Then, on that glorious Sunday, He exploded out of His grave and death itself died.
Surely, every person Jesus rescued would want to help as many others be rescued as possible – to “snatch others from the fire and save them” (Jude 23). But sadly, so many have simply settled back with the already rescued, seemingly oblivious to the dying people all around them.
Recently, a friend came across a directory of over 500 Christian organizations. To her amazement, only 8% of those ministries have evangelism as part of their stated mission! Perhaps that reflects how many of Jesus’ followers have rescuing the lost as part of their PERSONAL mission.
The rescuer’s cry on September 11, “I have to get everyone out” – that’s the passion that drives evangelists. When lives are at stake, your mission is clear – RESCUE THE DYING, WHATEVER IT TAKES.