Saved From What?
Can you get “saved” and be completely lost? I would say that you certainly can, and the story of Olympian Louie Zamperini proves you can be “saved” multiple times and continue to be lost!
While his life looked like a story of victory, he was completely lost, even after being saved numerous times.
As a runner in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Louie didn’t win the race—but something remarkable happened. His final lap was so fast, so explosive, that it caught the attention of Adolf Hitler himself, who requested to meet him. While not everything was known as to the extent of evil that would be perpetrated by the Furher, a drunken night ended with him stealing a Nazi flag that he would bring home. Somehow he escaped without getting captured.
He looked unstoppable. But that was only the beginning.
SAVED… FROM THE CRASH
Louis Zamperini
The Mission
Zamperini was on a B-24 bomber, part of a squadron conducting bombing raids over Japanese-held islands. These missions were extremely dangerous—enemy fighter planes and anti-aircraft fire were constant threats.
The Attack
On May 27, 1943, during a raid over Nave Island in the Pacific, their plane was attacked by Japanese fighter planes. Enemy planes fired machine guns and cannon rounds at the B-24. The plane was hit repeatedly, catching fire and losing altitude rapidly.
The Crash
Despite the crew’s efforts to keep the plane in the air, the damage was too severe. The B-24 went down into the open sea. Out of the 11 crew members, only three survived: Louie Zamperini, pilot Russell Allen Phillips, and tail gunner Francis McNamara.
Zamperini even cried out to God: if He would save him, he would follow Him. A promise that he would not immediately keep…just yet. He was saved from the crash but not from what came next.
SAVED… FROM THE SEA
After his plane went down in the Pacific in 1943, Louis Zamperini found himself in one of the most desperate survival situations imaginable – adrift on a tiny life raft in the open ocean for 47 days.
Here’s how he survived:
The Crash and the Raft
Zamperini was aboard a B-24 bomber that crashed into the Pacific Ocean. Out of the crew, only three men survived the impact and made it onto a small inflatable raft: Louie, pilot Russell Allen Phillips, and tail gunner Francis McNamara. They were alone, no land in sight, no clear rescue coming.
How He Stayed Alive
They had only a few emergency rations: small chocolate bars, water, and a flare gun. But early on, McNamara panicked and ate most of the chocolate, leaving them nearly empty-handed within days.
Catching Rainwater
Their main source of drinking water came from rainfall. When storms passed, they used whatever they could — rafts, containers, even their hands — to collect fresh water.
Catching Fish and Birds
They caught fish with their bare hands. They grabbed seabirds when they landed on the raft, ate the meat, and even used parts of the birds as bait to catch more fish.
Constant Danger
Sharks circled the raft day and night, sometimes bumping it. The scorching sun caused severe dehydration and burns. Storms nearly capsized them. At one point, a Japanese plane strafed the raft with gunfire, riddling it with holes. But somehow it stayed afloat. After about 33 days, McNamara died. Zamperini and Phillips pushed on — weak, starving, and drifting over 2,000 miles.
The Outcome
After 47 days, they finally drifted into waters controlled by Japan and were captured by the Japanese Navy. For 47 days, Louie drifted at sea. No food. Almost no water. Sharks circling below. Enemy planes strafing from above. At any moment, death seemed certain. Yet somehow he survived. He was saved from starvation… saved from the sharks… saved from the ocean. But still… not truly saved.
SAVED… INTO SUFFERING
Eventually, Louie was picked up… not by rescuers, but by the Japanese military. He was thrown into a prisoner-of-war camp.
After enduring brutal treatment, especially under the sadistic guard Mutsuhiro Watanabe, Zamperini was held in multiple Japanese prisoner-of-war camps. His suffering was intense: beatings, starvation, psychological torment, and forced labor.
But everything changed in August 1945.
When the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan moved toward surrender. Shortly after, Japan officially surrendered on September 2, 1945, marking the end of World War II.
Japanese guards often fled the camps, fearing punishment for war crimes. Prisoners were left behind, confused and weak, unsure of what was happening. Soon after, American planes began flying over the camps — not to bomb, but to drop food, supplies, and notes telling the prisoners the war was over.
Zamperini later described the moment he realized he was free. It didn’t come from a gate being unlocked, but from the sudden absence of cruelty and the appearance of hope. Eventually, Allied forces arrived and formally liberated the camps, and Zamperini was evacuated. Back home, he was initially reported as dead, so his return seemed miraculous.
Day after day, he survived what should have killed him. He was saved from death repeatedly… but not from the hatred building inside him.
Not Yet Saved
When the war ended, Louie came home. “Saved”… but not free. He was plagued by nightmares. Consumed with anger. Driven by bitterness and drunkenness. Though he had been “saved” many times physically, he was still in chains spiritually.
Truly Saved
Louis Zamperini
When he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ, the man who once burned with hatred was transformed. He forgave his enemies. He found peace. That’s when Louie Zamperini was truly saved.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SAVED?
The Bible teaches that salvation is not just about being rescued from circumstances. It’s about being saved from sin in three powerful ways. Two present realities and a future to come:
1. Saved From The Penalty Of Sin
Louie escaped death many times, but there is a greater judgment none of us can escape on our own.
“For the wages of sin is death…” —Romans 6:23
Sin earns a penalty: death and eternal separation from God. Every one of us stands guilty before a holy God. But just as Louie needed someone outside of himself to rescue him, we need a Savior.
“Christ died for us… we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” —Romans 5:8–9
No condemnation for those In Christ!
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” —Romans 8:1-2
Jesus took the punishment we deserve.
“and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” —1 Peter 2:24
On the cross, He bore the full penalty of sin, so that all who trust in Him are forgiven, justified, and saved from God’s wrath. He knew no sin, but became sin for us!
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” —2 Corinthians 5:21
2. Saved From The Power Of Sin
Even after surviving the war, Louie couldn’t escape the control of anger and bitterness. That’s because sin isn’t just something we do, it’s something that rules over us.
“Sin shall not have dominion over you…” —Romans 6:14
When you come to Christ, the power of sin is broken. You are no longer a slave to sin, but now to righteousness:
“Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” —Romans 6:16-18
Through the Holy Spirit you are given new desires, new strength, and the ability to walk in freedom. He never leaves us without a way of escape:
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” —1 Corinthians 10:13
You aren’t on your own and when we fall under the mighty hand of God, we know that without Him we can do nothing, but through Him all things are possible when we abide in Him:
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” —John 15:5
Louie went from hating his captors… to forgiving them. That’s the power of real salvation.
3. Saved From The Presence Of Sin
Louie was rescued from many temporary dangers, but the Bible promises a final, eternal rescue for those in Christ.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes…” —Revelation 21:4
One day:
• No more sin
• No more suffering
• No more pain
• No more death
The very presence of sin will be removed forever. All the brokenness of this world will be undone.
When Adam and Eve fell into sin, death came with it. The thorns and thistles that came along with their transgressions was bore on Jesus’ head when He wore the crown of thorns, symbolizing the reality of a curse that was to be reversed.
“And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” —Matthew 27:29
What was meant as an insult, was God using the wickedness of man to express a painful reality of sin’s destruction being reversed on the head of our king. This will eventually be fully realized when we are with Him forever in the new heavens and new earth promised to us.
“But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” —2 Peter 3:13
The curse is reversed!
“Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him;” —Revelation 22:1-3
ARE YOU TRULY SAVED?
Louie Zamperini was saved from a crash… saved from the sea… saved from war… but none of these could save his soul. Only Jesus can do that.
What about you?
You may have been spared from danger. You may have made it through hardships. But have you been saved from:
• The penalty of sin?
• The power of sin?
• The future presence of sin?
Come To Christ Today
Don’t receive the grace of God in Vain!
“‘At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.’ Behold, now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation’” —2 Corinthians 6:2
Recognize that you are a law-breaker who deserves punishment for the crimes you have committed. What crimes? The very laws that God has written on our heart and in stone.
How many lies have you told in your whole life?
Have you ever stolen anything, no matter how small?
Have you ever used God’s name in vain?
Have you ever looked with lust?
The Bible says if you’ve done these things, you’re a lying, thieving, blasphemous adulterer at heart — and that’s just a few of the Ten Commandments!
So would you be innocent or guilty before a holy God? The answer is guilty.
The Bible says:
“The wages of sin is death…” —Romans 6:23
That’s not just physical death, but eternal separation from God.
The Good News
God is not only just, He is rich in mercy. Jesus Christ lived the perfect life you couldn’t live, and died on the cross to take the punishment you and I deserve. Then He rose from the dead, defeating sin and death.
“God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” —Romans 5:8
Your Response
God doesn’t just call you to feel bad, He calls you to respond:
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” —Acts 3:19
Turn away from your sinful life. Turn towards the one true God.
“The time is fulfilled… repent and believe in the gospel.” —Mark 1:15
And:
“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” —Romans 10:9
“For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” —Romans 10:13
Today, don’t trust in your goodness, because it won’t save you. Trust in Jesus Christ.
Turn from sin.
Believe the gospel.
Call on Him today.
THE PROMISE
If you come to Christ:
• Your past is forgiven (Penalty of sin removed)
• Your present is changed (Power of sin broken)
• Your future is secured (Presence of sin eliminated)
And one day He will wipe away every tear from your eyes.
“and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” —Revelation 21:4
“(after asking Christ into his heart) I waited. And then, true to His promise, He came into my heart and my life. The moment was more than remarkable; it was the most realistic experience I’d ever had. I’m not sure what I expected; perhaps my life or my sins or a great white light would flash before my eyes; perhaps I’d feel a shock like being hit by a bolt of lightning. Instead, I felt no tremendous sensation, just a weightlessness and an enveloping calm that let me know that Christ had come into my heart.”
–Louie Zamperini, Devil at My Heels, New York: Harper, 2011
Chad Davidson