"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road
that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and
narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7: 13-14
NIV)
"We too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of
passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one
another." (Titus 3:3 NIV)
The Salève mountain in Northern France holds an inexplicable attraction to any
sports-oriented person. It is known for skiing in winter and for mountain
climbing the rest of the year; but the most fascinating sport it is known for is
hang-gliding. People come from all over with their "oversized" kites, attach
themselves to them, and jump off the edge of the cliff. Their goal? To steer
their way to the landing strip down in the valley below. Most are successful,
but there are many inexperienced hang-gliders who are unfortunate enough to find
wrong wind currents that direct them straight to their death against the rocks
at the foot of the mountain.
I enjoyed watching those dare-devils. After all, you must have some guts to
throw yourself off the rocks into complete emptiness, completely dependant on
air and cloth!
It was while I was enjoying watching these colorful "oversized kites" when
someone approached me.
"Terrific view isn't it?" he asked.
"Sure is," I replied.
"I would like to make you an offer," he said, rather matter-of-factly.
"An offer?" I was completely caught off guard. Why would anyone be interested in
me, a mere theology student?
"Would you like to earn a million Swiss francs?"
"Who wouldn't?" I cried. "But first of all, I don't think we introduced
ourselves."
"My name if of no importance to you. I am a multi-millionaire and like to dare
people."
"Dare people?" I wondered. "Why?"
"It brings excitement in my life. You have no idea how boring it is to be rich."
"What kind of a dare do you have in mind?" I inquired.
"One week from today, I dare you to jump from the Salève. If you do it, a
million Swiss francs will be yours."
"A million Swiss francs! Are you serious? Why me, and not one of those
professionals out there?" Then I started to think it over. Receiving a million
Swiss francs would sure help pay for my studies! And just imagine how many
people I could help out with that much money! Imagine how many Bibles could be
purchased for those hungering for God's word! I could hire a specialist who
could teach me all the basics of hang-gliding. Time would be short, but if I
concentrated all of my time of it, I could probably pull it off. But . . . Wait.
Was there a catch?
"I'm serious. I'm not interested in professionals."
"What's the catch?" I asked. "I think I just might be able to learn hang-gliding
in a week's time."
"I don't think you understand me," responded the stranger. "I challenge you to
jump off the Salève without a hang-glider!"
Was this guy crazy or what? Who in their wildest dreams would take such a dare
like this? A million Swiss francs is worthless to anyone committing suicide! And
I quickly turned him down.
What about you? Would you take such a dare? No, you would probably answer with,
"That's crazy!" The sad fact is that there is someone giving out these crazy
dares, and the majority of humanity is taking his dares seriously. Who, you ask?
The devil. Don't be surprised! Why wouldn't he dare you, when he dared our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ? Let's look at Matthew 4: 8-9: "The devil took him to a
very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their
splendor. 'All this I will give you,' he said, 'if you will bow down and worship
me.'" NIV
The pleasures of life, all what the world has to offer us, have price tags
attached to them. It doesn't matter if it is sex or drugs or achievement, the
price tag is the same.
"But," you may say, "I never saw a price tag attached to those things!"
The price tag is hidden, but we all have to pay it eventually. The price is
death - Romans 6:23a: "For the wages of sin is death . . ."
"How is this possible?"
Giving in to the pleasures of life is giving in to devil worship. We are all
tempted by it and we all failed-Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God." NIV
We all face having to pay that price.
"But wait a minute. Isn't there any other way out of it?"
Not through any of our own efforts. The only solution is through God's effort -
Romans 6:23b: "But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
And Romans 5:10: "When we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through
the death of his Son." NIV
"Is there a catch?" you ask.
The only catch is that you need to accept God's offer. Otherwise you are heading
to the check-out stand and will have to pay the price tag of your sinful life.
The choice is yours to make. God is willing to pay the price. He has already
paid for it. However the check is of no use if it isn't cashed in.
What will be your choice?
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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