Some like chocolate kisses, and others prefer the real thing. There are some, however, who prefer to receive a kiss … from a giraffe!

Many tourists in Kenya visit shelters where giraffes are displayed and fed. To put a bit more zest into their adventures, they often put giraffe pellets between their teeth. This attracts the giraffe, and as he nears, their mouths automatically come in contact with one another. The giraffe’s tongue, which is 54 cm (1.8 feet) long, by the way, dislodges the pellet and the kiss is complete.

If you’re into tricks, hey! Why not???

Me, I’d rather keep my lips and mouth to myself, thank you!

In life we often obtain our desired goals by doing tricks. Unfortunately, there are those who also try similar “tricks” to obtain salvation. They can be divided into four categories:

1. The Do-Gooders: “Hey look how good I am! I may not be a Mother Theresa, but at least I am thousands, no millions of times better than Hitler! I deserve heaven simply on that criterion alone, don’t I?”

One little problem! The Bible clearly tells us: “All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Rom 3:12 NIV); and “The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.” (Eccl 9:3-4 NIV)

2. The Busy-Bees: “Look how active I am in church! Much better than that “pew potato” who just sits there half asleep every week! Based on this alone, I’m sure I deserve heaven!”

In all truth, no one can boast such a thing! “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph 2:8-9 NIV)

3. The Lawkeepers: “Look how faithfully I keep God’s law! Whenever a beautiful woman comes to my attention, I quickly put my nose in a book and act as if she doesn’t exist. I sure don’t want my fantasies to run wild! And whenever I find out someone is a hypocrite, I make sure to give him my two cents worth. I tell him what’s on my mind, you can be sure of that! And naturally, I always succeed in making that person feel miserable! Whenever I’m tempted to cheat on my taxes, I hand over my tax forms to my spouse and let her do it. What I don’t know won’t hurt me, right? This should make me earn heaven, right?”

Are our attempts to keep God’s law really that good? “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10 NIV); and “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Eph 2:8 NIV)

4. The Moneymongers: “I’m rich! Look at all the money I give to the poor every week! I’m assured a spot in Heaven, right?

Money can be nice, but it can’t buy everything, like real friendship and real love. Neither can it buy a ticket to heaven. “You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Matt 6:24 NIV); and “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matt 19:24 NIV)

In all realities, no tricks can help us reach heaven! The simple truth is that it’s not about us, it’s all about Jesus who willingly died in our place, so that we could savour eternity with Him! None of our mediocre attempts will be of any help at all! Jesus is the reason we can reach heaven, if we accept Him as Saviour and Lord!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV)

If you don’t know Him yet, invite Him into your heart and start to discover how deep His love is for you. He will invite you to be His friend for eternity!

I wonder what would happen if I put bear pellets between my teeth? Do you think a grizzly would give me a kiss?

Rob Chaffart

(To view the entire “Nairobi, Here I Come!” devotional series, please click here.)