Rescued
- Morgan Joy
- Sep 11, 2018
- 3 min read
As Christians we talk about being rescued through Christ. “Salvation” means that we are rescued. But we sometimes have different ideas about what that means. For some, the focus is on being rescued from something – from death or punishment. For others, as N.T. Wright so eloquently explains in “Surprised By Hope“, we are rescued TO something. We are rescued to the inauguration of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.
That’s all well and good, but what does that look like on the practical, day to day level? How do I wrap my mind around my identity as one who is rescued, by God, for God’s purposes?
Adopting a dog from an animal rescue organization four years ago, gave me yet another perspective on what it means to be rescued, and adopted into the family of God. Rory, my Japanese Chin rescue, teaches me everyday about God’s love and grace.
Choosing Rory
Why did I pick him? Because I did. That was really all there was to it. I saw him, I fell in love, he didn’t bite me and run away when I picked him up or tried to walk him. It wasn’t merit-based, it was simply love-based.
Rory’s Past
I was given very little information about Rory’s life before he became mine, as is common with rescues. I was told that he was surrendered by a breeder, and he was approximately five years old. Oh, and that he had to have a bunch of teeth removed.
The fact of the matter is, his past had no bearing on how I felt about him, or whether I would pick him, so I didn’t really need to know. He was mine now and that was all that mattered. Unfortunately, that past had some consequences for him – one of them being his dental hygiene, so he gets soft bones and small chewy treats. It’s also possible that his past would affect present behaviours (e.g. hiding under the bed, eating pieces of plastic), and when that happened I would correct the present behaviours.
Rory’s Present
I love Rory so much. Not because of anything he does, but because he is mine. I want him to flourish and have a wonderful life. Every decision that I make, is in the interest of doing that – trips to the vet, eyedrops and nose-cleaning, the food I buy, the toys I buy… When I hear him snoring away so loudly, completely comfortable and content in his little cubby, I am thrilled. Or when I see him go to his little toy chest and pick out a toy to play with – my heart is full.
This is what it means to be rescued.
Chosen. Not because of anything that we did, but just because God wanted us.
The past is gone, but not forgotten. Nothing in our life before Christ is held against us by God. There may be lingering consequences, that God will redeem as we let him. If that past begins impacting how we are living in the present, God will correct and redirect us towards what is better for us.
The present is for flourishing. Our rescued life is meant to be full and vibrant. The point of being rescued is that we fully engage in the new life that we have been offered – where we can rest and play, and spend quality time with God. Where God’s kingdom of restoration and reconciliation is breaking through.
God delights in us, in our quirks and passions. God desires the best life for us, and the more we listen and obey – the more we understand what that looks like. What better example than a dog, to reflect the fact that God’s love for us is not merit-based. There is nothing that Rory can do to make me love him any more, and there is nothing that he can do to make me love him any less. He is fully loved, as he is, no matter what.
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