I have been fascinated by the story of the rescue of the 33 Chilean miners. It is an incredible story of hope, ingenuity, faith and community. Anyone who was not trapped with them for the two+ months they were half a mile underground will have no idea of the sense of community that had to have developed down there.

On the surface, hundreds of people worked around the clock to rescue the 33—from other miners even to the president of Chile. I am sure these 33 miners have developed the same type of camaraderie that soldiers do in battle.

There is no doubt faith played a major role while the miners were trapped. One of the miners said: “God and the devil were both with me. They fought over me, and God won!” What incredible moments of faith must have been a part of these men’s lives.

Yet, as I talk with students, I often am overwhelmed by the sense of hopelessness and overpowering ennui that seems to define their lives. Their lives seem to be meaningless, just going through the motions. Many move from experience to experience, seeking one more adrenalin rush that will provide a jolt lasting just a bit longer than the last. As soon as it is over, they fall back into a rut which has nothing to offer until the next fun experience offers itself to be consumed. Rarely do I see any difference between a Christian teen and one who is not.

I talked to a Christian teen recently about these events, and he said he wished his life mattered, that he could be special in some way as either the miners or their rescuers. “I wish my life mattered, that someone would see me as a hero, as someone important!” As we talked, I could sense this yearning to be involved in saving lives or at least in providing hope to someone else.

Most young people probably have thought something such as this at some point in their lives. My life personified that belief when I was younger. Perhaps that is why I am drawn and called to working with young people. They bring an energy and creative dynamic to the world around them even in the midst of their ennui.

This disconnect really has been eating at me lately. Perhaps it speaks to the complacency and lackadaisical attitude I often display toward the gospel of Jesus Christ; but it shouldn’t — doesn’t have to — be that way!

Acts 1:7-8 should be a rallying cry for all of us around the world to act as those who spent so much time and energy rescuing the miners. He (Christ) said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

I can’t read that without reflecting on the great call God has placed on my life to be a rescuer of others through His power, truth and strength. He has called me to dig through the rock, dirt and mire of this world through the power of His Holy Spirit to reach those who are trapped beneath the crushing weight of sin. The good news is He has called all believers to mission. We should be a brotherhood, a sisterhood of rescuers, working together to reach the lost, trapped and crushed. God has called us to something special, to something unique. Acts 5:20 says, “Go your way, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” Beautiful words. An incredible charge and mission to which we are called.

Maybe we comfort and coddle our youth too much. Maybe we should challenge them to be God’s rescuers to a broken, trapped and crushed world; but we must start with ourselves. Then we can outlive our lives to His glory as others follow Him and rescue the next generation in turn.