“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.‘“ Luke 19:10 NIV



In a story titled “A runner saw a dog stuck near a 1,000-foot cliff. He carried her down” published last week, it was reported that Sergio Florian was out for an evening run up a mountain on Oahu’s east side when something caught his eye: a white and gray dog curled up near the edge of a 1,000-foot cliff. The dog was in distress. “I was shocked to see her because I’ve never seen a dog up that high,” said Florian, 44, who trains for marathons on steep trails behind his home in Kaaawa, Hawaii, once or twice a week. The dog was dehydrated, and her face and neck were covered with scratches, he said. Florian immediately realized she was too weak to make it down the steep Pu’u Manamana trail without help. “She was in the most treacherous part of the trail, stuck between two cliffs, and it was almost sunset,” he said, adding that there were drop-offs in all directions…. That night after the rescue, Florian posted on Instagram that his arms were aching from carrying Stevie, but his heart was full. More than 24,000 people have liked the post. “I couldn’t leave another living creature in distress like that,” he wrote. “Love happy endings.”


And you know, when it comes to happy endings, the Bible tells us that “the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” This is such Good News because we were all ‘in distress’ and desperately lost at one time, unable to save ourselves and destined to die in our sin without a Savior to come to our aid. You see, without the greatest rescue mission of all time, there would never have been a happy ending of any kind. But thankfully, Jesus loved us too much to let that happen and gives all those who trust in Him the ‘happiest of endings.’ Do you just love that or what?


So if you haven’t accepted Jesus as your Savior, what are you waiting for my friend? There is no other Name by which you can be saved! And there is no other Way to escape the horrific ending all those who reject Jesus Christ will face. 


Heavenly Father, thank You for the priceless gift of salvation that was given through the birth, death and resurrection of Your one and only Son, Jesus Christ. Knowing the fate that awaits all those who don’t accept this gift, help us to be bold in sharing the Good News with the world. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 


Happy Running!