“Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, snatch them in pity from sin and the grave.”

We sing this old hymn from time to time. Do we understand what it means? Do we understand what it is calling on us to accomplish? The urgency we are to show in saving those around us who are lost? We know the facts, but sometimes we aren’t acting like anyone needs to be rescued.

Jude tells us, “and some save, snatching them out of the fire…” (Jude 23, ASV). If any of us passed by a house that was on fire, and we knew someone was trapped inside that we could save, I believe we would do everything within our power to rescue them. Yet our friends and neighbors are headed for an eternal fire and we put forth little if any effort to rescue them from this fate. Those around us who are outside of Christ are in danger. The only thing keeping them out of Hell is God’s patience (2 Pet. 3:9). We must rescue them before time runs out. We must snatch them out of the fire. The power to save is not ours, but the responsibility certainly is. We must throw out the life-line.

When Jesus walked among us, He saw us as being sick with sin (Matt. 9:12). He saw us as lost and in need of a shepherd and a savior (Matt. 9:36; Luke 19:10). He knew what Heaven is like and He knew what Hell is like. His love for us caused Him to do what He could to “rescue the perishing.”

Do we look on others the same way Jesus did? Do we have the same love for their souls? Does it bother you when someone who is lost dies? Does it bother you knowing they were not rescued from the fire? Think about it. Act on it.

Our hymn ends with this verse: “Rescue the perishing, duty demands it, strength for thy labor the Lord will provide: Back to the narrow way, patiently win them; tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died. Rescue the perishing, care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.”