After over sixty years of saving lives, 81 year-old James Harrison is finally retiring from his position as “the man with the golden arm.” This nickname comes from homage to the Australian senior’s astonishing blood donor track record. His willingness to donate his blood has had a game-changing effect on his country.
Because of a rare antibody found in Harrison’s blood when he was 14, his donations have directly contributed to saving over 2.4 million Australian babies. Since then, Harrison has been giving blood every week for the last sixty years, which amounts to roughly 1,100 donations. What’s more, scientists have been able to use Harrison’s blood to manufacture a life-saving vaccine for the dreaded disease called Anti-D.
His willingness to be “stuck” over 1,100 times is quite an accomplishment and well over two million human beings owe their lives to him. So, is he the all-time record holder for giving blood to save lives? No, not even close! You see, Mr. Harrison’s blood can only sustain the lives of these babies for a relatively short period of time. Eventually, they will face death again at some point. Though their lives have been extended by Harrison’s blood, they will all eventually experience their own physical death.
Hopefully, before that happens many of these will have received the vaccine from the blood of the only One sufficient to save them “to the uttermost.” (Hebrews 7:25) That, of course, would be Jesus!
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19) You see, Jesus has never been infected by sin as has mankind.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) In His sinless blood is found the antibody necessary to give whosoever will eternal life.
“Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission (forgiveness) of sins.” (Hebrews 9:22) The “heavenly blood bank” has enough blood to save all that would receive it.
“In whom we have redemption through his (Jesus) blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” (Ephesians 1:7) Through the power of His blood, we have been set free from the power and consequences of our sins.
Most would praise the sixty-year investment of time, effort and blood selflessly given by James Harrison. But here is the reality of the matter. If this great man has not placed his faith in the precious blood of Jesus Christ, then even he will not enjoy eternal life with our Lord. Without the blood of Jesus, all of his good deeds “are as filthy rags.”
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6}
But there is power in the precious blood of the Lamb, Christ … my Savior!