Mr. Desmond Doss served as a medic in the US Army during World War II. His story would likely be lost to the annals of history were it not for the 2016 blockbuster film Hacksaw Ridge. The movie is a dramatization of the real-life heroics of Mr. Doss during the war. During a particularly bloody battle, Doss ran into a veritable hell to drag wounded men to safety. For his efforts, Mr. Doss was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award given for military valor. According to estimates by the US Army, Mr. Doss was responsible for saving approximately 100 lives through his actions. Doss himself disputed that number stating, “It couldn’t have been more than 50. I wouldn’t have had the time to save 100 men.” Whether it was 100 or 50, the feat was incredible.
In an interview, Mr. Doss noted that throughout his experience he continued to pray, “Lord, please help me get one more… just one more!” Over and over, he charged into a veritable hell to drag men from imminent death to life. Mr. Doss’s unbreakable faith and unwavering determination to save as many as possible is truly inspiring. His actions paint a wonderful picture of the sacrificial love of Christ and provide a poignant illustration of the urgency we should feel and demonstrate in our attempts to share the life-giving gospel of Jesus with the world around us.
It is only through the saving grace of Jesus and faith in His sacrificial work on the cross that we are saved from the power of death and Hell in this life and for eternity.
In John 5:24, we read these words from Jesus: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” Although it is not a very popular concept in the world today, Hell is very real. The consequences of our sin and rebellion are all around us. Many experience the horrors of Hell long before they pass from this life to the next. As the saying goes, “In the midst of life, we are in death.” It is only through the saving grace of Jesus and faith in His sacrificial work on the cross that we are saved from the power of death and Hell in this life and for eternity.
As followers of Jesus, it is our responsibility to join in the important work of escorting all who would believe “from death to life.” We have been called to serve as witnesses of who Jesus is and all He has done and is doing in our world. Our mission is very much like that of Desmond Doss. His prayer should be ours. We should pray, “Lord, please help me get one more… just one more!” We should head out to find the hurting, the least, and the lost, wherever they may be, to offer them a helping hand and to lead them to the Savior.
As followers of Jesus, it is our responsibility to join in the important work of escorting all who would believe “from death to life.”
In Mark 16:15-16, we read these words from Jesus, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved…” We have been entrusted with the most important rescue mission in all of history. We have been given the responsibility to share the truth of the gospel, the good news of eternal salvation by grace through faith in Jesus. In a very real sense, we have been sent to pull people from death to life. May we feel the urgency of the mission and may we ever be looking to help save “just one more!”
