Daily Devotional

“Man overboard! Man overboard! This is not a drill.” I was around twenty years old when I first heard these words while on the way to “Yankee Station”—the place off the coast of Vietnam where we launched our aircraft to assist the troops. Apparently, one of our shipmates was blown off the flight deck during flight operations. We searched for days. He was never found.

That was over fifty years ago, but I will never forget the helpless feelings as the hours and days passed in our sweeping searches. I remember the ache when the rescue and recovery operations were called off and we moved on. Yes, we left a man behind!

I have often wondered what might have been if we had searched just one more day, in one more effort to find him. It still brings sadness to my heart, especially as I try to imagine what his family feels when they see his name etched on a memorial wall in Washington, D.C. “Why didn’t they keep searching? Why did they leave him for lost?”

My mind reflects often on the many passages of Scripture about God’s rescue operations to deliver us as spiritually drowning people. My heart rejoices in His amazing grace that causes me to sing, “I once was lost, but now I’m found...” My spirit is also challenged to never give up praying for and participating in God’s Search and Rescue Team to the “dying shipmates” in my family, neighborhood, country, and world.

May the Lord always keep us on the lookout for the lost He came to save (cf. Luke 19:10). May our hearts break over the things that break His heart. May we make the most of every opportunity God gives us to rescue souls (cf. Colossians 4:5).

One more day! One more effort! One more life saved!

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