Jump for a Price

by | May 25, 2003 | Salvation

“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

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