On an online news article tells how Norway’s Kasper Ilaug responded to a call saying that nearby young people were in grave danger. Christian brothers and sisters, we have also received a desperate phone call. Will we respond like Kasper Ilaug?
Kasper Ilaug had been sitting in his cabin on Norway’s Storoya Island when a friend contacted him to say that something terrible had happened following the bomb blast in Oslo and that he must use a nearby boat to help rescue people from Utoeya.
‘I thought he was joking with me,’ he said.
But determined to do what he could, he grabbed his iPad, mobile and put on a bright yellow jacket with a red helmet and ran down to and 18ft fishing boat before heading off in the direction of Utoeya island, north west of Oslo.
Within minutes he had reached the shore and spotted a number of children hiding behind the rocks and crouching behind trees.
‘We saw some youngsters laying there and waving to us. They were terrified,’ he said. Most of them, dressed in nothing but bathing suits, were shivering from the cold and quickly clambered into the boat.
‘I then got this text message from one of my friends that said there’s a lunatic out there shooting people,’ he told CNN news.
Making three trips in total, at one point he spotted a group of youngsters behind some rocks.
‘I tried to wave to them and to get their attention, but I didn’t get a reponse. I thought maybe they are still in shock or laying behind that rock for shelter.’
Rescue workers set up camp across a lake and opposite the small island of Utoeya
At least 84 people have been killed in the devastating attack on Utoeya island
However he soon realised they had been killed by the suspected gunman Anders Breivik, 32, who had been on a rampage, calling over his victims before opening fire on them.
Breivik killed 84 people at the summer political youth camp which was organised by the country’s leading Labour Party.
Victims described how they could hear his boots crunching on the ground as he sought out his victims and wearing what appeared to be a police uniform.
Mr Ilaug said several of the people he rescued told him that a policeman has opened fire on them.
‘I think I made three trips, they were so grateful. One girl started crying.
‘We’re just 4.7 million people. Nothing much happens here. Even in catastrophic situation like this, we keep calm.
‘I’m just an ordinary Norwegian people. I expect that other Norwegians would do the same thing for me in a similar situation.’
Of course, we have not received a phone call. Rather God has spoken to us in His Word. The situation of lost people is as desperate at that of those on the island in Norway. All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. The wages of sin is death. And not everyone who thinks he or she is going to Heaven is.
The Good News has been entrusted to us. We have a mission.
Sure the guy has a gun. Yet, as Luther contended, the mission is worth the risk! Don’t get sidetracked with petty issues. Let’s get in our boats and go.
sir m doing my thesis about forgiveness in the book of exodus.want to stay in touch with u for making my thesis much understanding.if u would b so kind………your brother in Christ.