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Jack's alive for another season
Topics: 24, television, God, faith, Jesus
Posted by admin Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
Viewed 370 times
0 responses 0 comments I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, oh Lord, make me dwell in safety.
— Psalm 4:8

I don’t know about you, friend, but I discovered about two months ago that the world is a lot safer than you and I might think it is.

Until then, I must confess I thought the possibility of a nuclear war was imminent, but not any more. You can rest assured there are extremely gifted men and women in this world who eat and sleep only to ensure our national security.

There is one man who daily risks his life to prevent terrorist attacks upon the world and who would lay down his life in a moment so that you and I might know peace. Many of you know him and some do not, but Jack Bauer is a man’s man. I have never known a man wiling to go to the extremes like Jack does to rescue people.

A month or so ago my wife injured her back while hosing off our patio, and it just went out. She was totally immobilized for a few days, but somehow she got ahold of the television series “24” on DVD. 

We don’t watch a lot of television around our house. The TV usually stays on the local news or on the cooking channel while my wife fixes dinner, but now a couple of nights a week we have to watch “24.” I mean, we don’t have a choice. We are watching season three or four now on DVD, and I think the show is in its sixth season or so.

Recently I was discussing  “24” with a staff member who told me about a sermon he heard that referred to the show. The guy was sharing how he too had become hooked on “24” and would be worried sick during every episode. He worried that the character Jack Bauer would be killed — it would have him on the edge of his seat.

Until it happened: He had been watching season four and then he watched a show from the following season where Jack was still alive — and that changed everything.  As he continued to watched the show, he didn’t get so worked up because he knew in the next season Jack was still alive. That brought him comfort — or at least a less of an adrenaline rush — as he watched the show.

There is something about knowing the future that can bring us peace today.  Like this guy who found peace in knowing that Jack would be alive in the next season, as Christians you and I should enjoy this same hope, loved one.

Every day we face situations that are completely outside our control, but we should not live in fear. Have hope.

If you have read the book of Revelation you know about the “next season.”  Jesus is alive and because He lives — you and I who have placed our hope and trust in Jesus will live too. None of us will probably ever have to face the trials and tribulations that Jack Bauer has, but then again none of us has ever accomplished what Jesus Christ did  when He gave His life for us upon the cross at Calvary.

He paid the ransom for our lives. We had all been taken hostage by sin and death, but Jesus came to rescue us. Jesus came and laid his life down for us so He could take it up again to secure us a place in the “next season” as it were.

I pray you find peace in this today, friend. Life has a way of throwing us curves and into situations we don’t understand. Yet we can be at peace knowing Jesus is there for us and we are safe with Him.

The word of God says, “All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you need to be rescued today or you just need the peace of knowing there is a “next season” get into the word of God today. Enjoy the story and enjoy the fact that in Jesus we don’t just have a “next season” we have an “eternal season.”

It was Jesus who said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And he who believes in Me shall never die.”
That’s good news, loved one. Such good news that you should rest in Jesus today knowing He loves you, that you are safe in His love, and no one can snatch you out of His hand.

— Pastor Mike Osthimer is a Northwest resident and senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Westbrook. If this has helped you or if you would like to comment e-mail: mike@westbrook.org

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