Sundays were wonderful when I was a boy. It was my day with my dad. When the weather was nice we headed for the mountains with our dog. When it was cold and messy we went to the movies. Those were the days when they screened cliffhangers. For quite a while I thought they were awesome. The hero would be left dangling in the most precarious situations possible with no way of escape and the film would end. We had to come back next week to see how he got away. As I got older I caught on that the beginning of next week’s episode was not nearly as frightening as had been portrayed.
In the years that passed I have met innumerable people who are cliffhangers. They say they are Christians but refuse to accept the gift of salvation. They are still trying to earn it and are never sure if they are good enough or have done enough. If you ask them if they are saved they respond with “I hope so.” What a miserable way to live! They want Jesus to come but are scared they will be left behind. So where is the joy of salvation? Where is the peace that Jesus promises?
Life is one great cliffhanger.
Why is it so difficult just to trust Him and take Him at His word? He promised, “He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” It’s a promise the enemy doesn’t want us to think about. If we really do accept it, life ceases to be a cliffhanger. We don’t have to come back next week to know what is going to happen. We know and it’s great.
Written by Roger Bothwell on January 30, 2012
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org