Greater Love Hath No Man Than This...

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Jesus said that a man could make no greater sacrifice of love in his life than to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). On the evening of September 26, 2007, firefighter Michael D. Reagan Jr. did just that when he answered call #286 at the Sharon Hill Fire Company in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania. Joining his volunteer company and three other fire stations, Michael helped fight a blazing garage fire and ended up being severely injured in the blaze. Three days later on September 29, at the tender age of 19, Michael Reagan died from the injuries that he sustained. 

Saving Beginnings

When Michael was growing up, he and his family came to church. He learned to love Jesus Christ and His Word and while attending church accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. His friends all knew that he was different. They called him "Bible boy." While this was meant as an insult, it did not change him or his passion for serving Jesus and others. This passion led him to multiple jobs that involved helping and, quite frankly, saving others. In a statement submitted by his parents, they listed some of these jobs: 

"Michael was a nineteen-year-old [volunteer] fireman for the Sharon Hill Fire Company and the Holmes Fire Company. He was attending college‚ where he was studying law enforcement. He worked at the police station as a turnkey‚ watching the prisoners in their cells. He was also a lifeguard many summers at the pool."(1)

No matter what he did, Mike Reagan was concerned with saving lives. Whether being a lifeguard at the local pool, volunteering for two different fire departments, or simply sharing his faith, he wanted to see people saved. He carried this mentality with him throughout his whole life. 

Saving Endings 

Michael's life ended in tragedy, but his influence did not. In the largest event in the Sharon Hill Fire Company's history, with over 1,000 people in attendance and more watching via tv and the internet, his fellow firemen marched through the streets with his casket- hailing him as a fallen hero. All of the people who attended his funeral that day heard the message that Michael had heard as a child. The message that gave him the confidence to charge into a burning building. The message that his God had saved him. The message that meant no matter what fate his life met here on earth, the fate of his soul was eternal life.

As Pastor John Cartwright preached the message that day, I am sure that there were those in attendance who were asking themselves, why? Why would this young man, who had such a bright future ahead of him be taken at such a young age? The answer is not a simple one. Here on earth, we may never know why. God has plans that we will never understand in this life. What I do understand is this: God's plan for the lives of all who attended his funeral was for them to hear the truth of the Bible. How God sent his only Son into the world to live a perfect life and then, just as Michael gave his life to save the lives of the family who owned the property and his fellow firemen, Jesus died on the cross for their wrongdoings- to save their lives. 

It has been 10 years since the event (known simply as Call #286) that took Michael Reagan's life. But the message that he set forth still applies for us today. Michael D. Reagan Jr. gave his life in service to his community, while still serving his God. Jesus Christ was killed by His own country while proclaiming to them that he IS God. This voice still proclaims- Jesus Christ is God! What will you take from His sacrifice? Will you remember Him as the hero who gave His life to save yours? Will you allow Him to do that today? 

If you would like to, it's very simple. First, you must admit that you have done wrong-  that your life is one of burning down destruction like the garage that was ablaze that night. Because of our sins, our lives are headed for that end. We deserve to go to a real place of fire and torment called Hell. God does not want to send us there, but His perfect righteousness cannot be associated with our sin (Romans 3:10, Romans 6:23). 

Second, you must believe that Jesus Christ to save your life (Romans 5:8). When He came to this earth, it was like He was the one rushing into the burning building to grab you out of it. He gave up everything He had in Heaven because God "made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. (I Cor. 5:21)."

Thirdly, you must call on Him and ask Him to save you. The Bible says, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9)." Jesus came to this earth, he ran into the burning building where you were, or maybe still are perishing to save your soul. Will you take the hand that He is offering to you and let Him lead you out into life? He loved you enough to die for you. Will you love Him enough to now live for Him?

JOHN 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

(1) https://www.firehero.org/fallen-firefighter/michael-d-reagan-jr/