Just one more

I’ve recently watched the film Hacksaw Ridge. It’s several years old and I’m perhaps a little late in discovering it. If you’ve never seen it, it’s based on a true story about the heroics of a conscientious objector during World War 2.

Determined to serve in the battle, but with a conviction from God that he shouldn’t kill anybody, it’s very gripping (it’s as gruesome as it is gripping – so you’ve been warned).

Anyway…the man, serving as a battlefield medic, begins declaring something over his situation. As he wrestles to recover his wounded comrades from behind enemy lines, he utters: “Lord, help me get one more. Just one more!” If you can spare a couple of minutes, watch a clip here: Hacksaw Ridge – help me get one more

As I was watching the movie, I couldn’t help but think of our online Alpha course. Let me explain why.

If you’ve surrendered your life to Jesus, it’s because you’ve responded to the truth that He’s saved you. Not theoretically or hypothetically. Actually, properly, truly saved you. I’m not sure when you last paused to reflect on that? If you can spare another couple of minutes, you should probably pause for that too.

Because of my sin and your sin, we found ourselves stranded behind enemy lines, but served with the Gospel of Jesus – His death on the cross for those sins and His invitation to a resurrection into new life with Him – we can now enjoy salvation and freedom! When I open my Bible, I can’t get far into the Gospel of John without finding truth that supports that: ‘In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ (John 1v4-5)

I don’t know who shared the Good News of Jesus with you, to help you across that line of faith; but someone sure did.

Perhaps you were the ‘just one more’ they were calling out to God on behalf of?

We live in wildly unusual times, and it may feel like many of the goal posts are being moved. But the mission of Jesus hasn’t changed one iota. Everyday Church, take a look around you – your neighbour, your delivery guy, your school friend, the lady scanning your shopping at the checkout, your relative. There will no doubt be people near to you who just don’t know Jesus like you know Him. And if you feel a little perplexed and anxious by these times (and you walk with Jesus), just imagine what it might feel like to not know the ‘Prince of Peace’ (Isaiah 9 v6) carrying you. Because that may be their current experience.

If He saved a stinking wretch like me (and dare I say you), then anything is possible. Nobody has been written off by Him. Any interaction can help someone towards crossing that line of faith. No invitation to engage in truth about Jesus is a small one and Alpha is perfectly designed to help those nearby to us to engage with the Saviour they might not yet know much about.

Who are you going to be praying for and who will you invite on the next course? To join those already signed up for the next online course (starting in 5 weeks time), head to www.everyday.org.uk/alpha.

Who will be your ‘just one more’?