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A Salute to The Fukushima 50

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I don’t know any of their names, nor have I seen any of their faces.  They are not people that most folks would have characterized as heroes, but as the old saying goes: “when the going gets tough…the tough get going.”

The Fukushima 50 are way beyond tough.  They are a collection of nuclear plant workers who are looking death right in the face with unflinching courage.  They have volunteered to stay behind in a rapidly deteriorating situation so their colleagues and possibly even their nation can survive disaster.

In case you hadn’t heard of these amazing individuals, they are a collection of employees at the Fukushima nuclear plant who are on a mission to prevent a deadly total meltdown. The horrific earthquake and tsunami kicked off a lethal chain reaction that could produce a worse fate than the natural disasters themselves.  They are immersed in a living hell and they are exposed to more radiation in one hour than a normal nuclear plant worker is in an entire career.

In other words…they have chosen a likely and excruciating death so that others might live.

As I reflect on these amazing individuals and their self-sacrificing attitude, I am caught in a torrent of differing emotions.  My heart is broken for their families - I cannot even imagine what darkness must be enveloping their existence.  On the other hand, I am shamed at my own lack of courage when I realize that in a very real sense I am called to help avert a different kind of impending meltdown - a spiritual meltdown that could happen at any moment:

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.  Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation (2 Peter 3:9-14).

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that when Jesus returns to set up His Kingdom, it will be an event more catastrophic than anything the world has ever experienced. But the difference is that this calamity doesn’t need to take anyone by surprise!  Christians are equipped and called to have the courage to warn this generation that the return of Jesus Christ is a reality, and ignoring this fact or simply rejecting it from unbelief does not change the truth of Scripture.

Ironic, isn’t it?  Halfway across the globe is a group of people who are so concerned for the fate of their friends and nation that they are willingly exposing themselves to toxic levels of radiation.  And here we are, entrusted with the ultimate life saving message of the gospel, yet afraid of a little “heat” that we might get in the form of persecution or rejection.

I’ve wondered what might turn ordinary people into extraordinary heroes, and I’ve come to the conclusion that at some point they recognized the honor they’ve been given to fulfill a life saving role.

So think about it my friends…you rub shoulders with the doomed every day, and you have the same power within you that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.  The world is heading towards a meltdown, and you have the knowledge and experience to save people from the coming destruction.

My challenge to you is simple.  As you grieve over the unfathomable tragedies that are unfolding in Japan and admire the uncommon valor of the Fukushima 50, don’t forget to stand in the gap for your friends who either don’t know about or don’t believe in the Day of the Lord.  Make THE Cause of Christ your cause, and I promise that God will use you in ways you couldn’t imagine.

 

Ask your friends if they know about the Fukushima 50 and the incredible bravery they are demonstrating to the world.  Discuss whether or not there are things you would die for, and pray for an opportunity to share about Jesus, who made the ultimate sacrifice to save others.

Jesus you are the One who suffered and died the cruelest death in the universe.  Help me to have the heart for the world that caused You to leave Your heavenly home and come to earth to save us.

John 15:12-14. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.

Pick up a copy of Dare 2 Share: A Field Guide to Sharing Your Faith for practical tips and insights on how to share your faith with your friends.