He Died for Them
David Nanney planned to return home to Baltimore,
Maryland, on December 18 to spend the holidays with
his family and friends, but he didn’t make it.
Nanney had come to Denver to attend the Colorado
Center for the Blind. 10 years earlier, he had begun
losing his eyesight, which he and his family later
learned was due to a disease (retinitis pigmentosa)
which damages the retina, leading to a loss of
vision. He had joined 24 other students at the CCB
for training in life skills and Braille reading –
training which typically spans a nine-month period.
But
on Friday morning, December 17, Nanney was waiting for
a bus with two other visually impaired students to
attend a Christmas party at the CCB, when an
out-of-control car slid on the icy road toward them.
As Nanney heard the car skidding onto the sidewalk
where the three of them were standing, he “pushed the
two women out of the way and took the brunt of the
hit” (9News.com as quoted by Neal Pollard).
The
other two students were injured, but Nanney was killed
in the accident. This 47-year-old man is remembered
as being thoughtful, charitable, and a natural leader
by his family and fellow students at the CCB. These
wonderful traits moved him to give his life in order
to save two of his friends and classmates.
Nanney’s selfless sacrifice reminds us of the Ultimate
Sacrifice that was made for each of us as we faced an
even greater danger…
"Greater
love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life
for his friends.” – John 15:13
Due to our sins, each of us is destined for
destruction... (Matthew 7:13-14; Romans 6:23).
But because of His great love for us, God sent His Son
to die on the cross for our sins. As Neal Pollard has
written, “He was perfectly sinless (2 Corinthians
5:21), but was purposefully sent for our sins
(Galatians 4:4-5),” as payment for our redemption
(Ephesians 1:7).
Jesus’ atoning sacrifice will cover the sins of those
who will: place their
faith
and trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31) in turning from their
sins in
repentance
(Acts 17:30-31),
confessing
Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being
baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins
(Acts 2:38; 22:16).
In
the words of Neal Pollard: “Nanney is an unqualified
hero because he shoved two friends out of harm’s way.
Jesus is the Unparalleled Hero of Calvary because His
death saves us [each and every person who accepts His
offer] from eternal condemnation.”
Won’t YOU accept His
offer on His terms?
David A.
Sargent, Minister
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
*
Information gleaned from article by Howard
Pankratz and Carlos Illescas of the Denver Post (www.denverpost.com,
12-18-10) and Neal Pollard’s article, “He Died for Them” in his Daily
Bread of 12/20/10. Neal is the capable minister of the Bear Valley
church of Christ in Denver, CO.
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