His situation was hopeless at 27,230 feet – roughly the cruising altitude of a commercial airliner. Clinging to a rope in the Death Zone of Mt. Everest, the Malaysian climber was helpless, and death was staring him in the face. He had no way to save himself, and no one was helping him. Other climbers in his group had “left him for dead.” (1) Twelve others had died in recent months trying to reach the summit.

Temperatures in the “death zone” can dip below negative 30 degrees Celsius — or minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit. (2) A spokesperson for the Department of Tourism said: “It is almost impossible to rescue climbers at that altitude. It is a very rare operation.” (3)  

Someone reading this may feel like they are clinging to a rope in life – with only a grim prospect that things will eventually turn around. Not the “Death Zone” of Everest – but a dark zone of human experience, and there appears to be no way out. You are alone as you struggle – just as helpless as the desperate climber was as he shivered in the extreme cold clinging to that one rope. No rescue is in sight. No one seems to notice, and any who do cannot help.

Gelje Sherpa was helping a Chinese client reach the summit. They were just 500 metres from the top when Gelje saw the desperation of the other climber clinging to a rope. The sherpa knew death was imminent for the helpless climber.

“The climber had “nothing” and was “about to die. No one was helping him, no friends, no oxygen, no sherpas with him, no guides.” (4)

Did the dying climber know that someone spotted him – that someone saw the distress he was in? There’s hope when you know someone else sees the trouble you are in. Spiritually, you need to know that God sees the dark distress you are in just now.

It’s one thing to see the distress a person is in, but it’s another thing to choose to get involved. Other climbers knew they also were in the “Death Zone,” where temperatures are extremely low and where there isn’t enough oxygen to breathe unaided for more than a few minutes. So, rather than help, they only focused on reaching the summit themselves. (5)

Even though they, too, were only 500 meters from the summit, Gelje persuaded his Chinese client to abandon his summit effort, so he could help the stricken climber and attempt the life-saving rescue. “Saving one life is more important than praying at the monastery,” the 30-year-old Nepali guide said. (6) The sherpa mountain guide had participated in 55 other rescues, but he knew this one would be the hardest one in his life – and yet, he voluntarily gave himself to it.

Perhaps where you are in life, you feel helplessly lost. You have become aware that the very sin you enjoy is not your friend. It has become your enemy. Regardless of what sin it is, sin doesn’t just eventually and insidiously ‘become’ an enemy. Sin was and always has been and always will be the dark part of our lives that keeps us lost and alienated from God. It may be tempting and luring and seem good at the start, but ultimately sin will cause you to spiritually perish forever.

Here are three Bible verses about sin.

…through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— Romans 5:12

…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

…each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:14-15

As you read the Bible, you will quickly discover that God does not want a single person (including you) to perish because of sin. Others may see your darkness but press forward with their lives. But God sees, God cares, and God loves you. You are not reading this post by mere coincidence. God is working in your life.

The Lord … is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.  2Peter 3:9

Gelje Sherpa focused on saving the perishing Malaysian climber. With the help of his climbing client, Gelje carefully wrapped the climber in a sleeping mat, and between carrying him on his back and hauling him through the snow for six hours, they eventually got the climber down to an altitude where a helicopter could complete the rescue. (7)  

In your darkness and weakness and inability to save yourself, please know that you are not beyond the reach and rescue of God. God will save you – if and when you are willing to be rescued from your sins.

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8

You have read about an #Everest rescuer by the name of Gelji Sherpa. Take a few seconds to watch the video clip tweeted by EverestToday.

pic.twitter.com/QPofyeFWqg

— Everest Today (@EverestToday) June 1, 2023

The main character of the Bible is a Rescuer too. He is not known as a Sherpa. He is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for perishing sheep. As noble and as amazing as Gelje Sherpa’s physical rescue mission was, the spiritual rescue mission of Jesus stands alone in history - unique from all others. He gave His life to save them. His name is JESUS. Above, you read that God does not want a single person to perish in their sins and be lost forever. One of the most well-known verses in the Bible provides a beautifully concise statement about the heart of God towards you and every other sinner.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

Jesus told a story about one lost sheep and a shepherd who went …

…after the lost sheep until he finds it. And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.‘ Luke 15:3-7

The sherpa carried the helpless man on his back. In the story Jesus told, the shepherd rescued the lost sheep and, with delight, put it safely on his shoulders and brought it to safety. How far was Jesus willing to go to save you? He went to the Cross and paid sin’s penalty in full.

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross…For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God... 1Peter 2:24, 3:18

Would you like to be rescued from perishing in your sins? Are you helplessly lost? Will you allow God to save you? Can you trust the Saviour who died for your sins on the cross 2000 years ago?

Sources:

1. https://huddleup.substack.com/p/how-mount-everest-became-a-huge-and?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share
2. https://abcnews.go.com/International/sherpa-carries-struggling-climber-thousands-feet-mount-everest/story?id=99758258
3. https://www.insider.com/nepal-sherpa-saves-frozen-climber-everest-death-zone-epic-rescue-2023-6
4. https://www.insider.com/nepal-sherpa-saves-frozen-climber-everest-death-zone-epic-rescue-2023-6
5. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/everest-sherpa-interview-climbing-season-intl-hnk/index.html
6. https://www.insider.com/nepal-sherpa-saves-frozen-climber-everest-death-zone-epic-rescue-2023-6
7. https://www.insider.com/nepal-sherpa-saves-frozen-climber-everest-death-zone-epic-rescue-2023-6