Steak Knife Salvation

In a city synonymous with great steaks, one man is grateful for the steak knife that helped spare his life. Steve Wilder, of Omaha, Nebraska, used a steak knife to perform an at-home tracheotomy. He took this drastic measure because he thought he was going to die one night last week after awakening and being unable to breathe.

Wilder said he didn't call 911 because he didn't think help would arrive in time. So, the 55-year-old says, he got a steak knife from the kitchen and made a small hole in his throat, allowing air to gush in.

As someone who is about as squeamish as any human being can be, this story churns my stomach. I cannot imagine performing my own tracheotomy! However, in addition to being completely "grossed out," it also helps me to reflect on the value of life.

What some people have done in an effort to spare their own lives is astounding. The stories you have, no doubt, heard of men amputating trapped limbs with small, dull utility knives should further serve to illustrate just how far human beings will go to preserve life.

Mr. Wilder was saved from death by his own courage and determination to live. How far will you go to be saved from "the second death" (Revelation 2:11), that is, eternal condemnation and separation from God? The wonderful news is that God's grace has provided the sacrifice we needed, but could not ourselves supply (Titus 2:11) in Christ. God requires only our faith (Hebrews 11:6), loving obedience (John 14:15; Hebrews 5:9), and a humble attitude of self-sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).

How important is your own life? God has instilled within man an innate desire to live -- both physically and spiritually. When a man loses his desire to live (physically), this indicates a problem...perhaps mental illness. And when a man does not possess a desire to save his own soul, this too indicates a problem...a spirit that needs to be awakened and revived!

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2, ESV

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:16, ESV

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The Lord's Merciful Offer

Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Isaiah 1:18, ESV

It is remarkable to me that the same God that the same God who declared unto us the transcendence of his ways and thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9) makes this offer to such a feeble minded people -- an offer to reason with us! His offer of sin-cleansing grace -- sufficiently powerful to remove any trace of iniquity -- is given when we humbly accept the offer to come and reason with him.

The Lord of heaven is a God who desires our service from unabridged minds, devoting conscience, emotion, volition, and intellect to his purposes. In so doing, we benefit our own souls while glorifying God in the process. It is, after all, "for his name's sake" that he "leads us in right paths" (Psalm 23:3).

Can you think of anything more important that accepting the Lord's merciful offer yourself? The only thing that can even compete is telling others of that same offer once you have accepted it yourself.

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Well, It Is A Boomerang, After All!

An American who stole a boomerang from a museum in an Australian mining town back in 1983 returned it with an attached note. The American whose name was revealed only as "Peter" admitted to swiping the boomerang in his "younger and dumber" days.

Sure, it had been 25 years, but would we expect anything different? I mean, it IS a boomerang, after all, right? Those things are designed to return to their points of origin.

There's a profitable lesson in this for us. A penitent, contrite heart will compel one to do what is right. If restitution needs to be made, then restitution needs to be made. 25 years were not enough for the mystery boomerang caper to scrub the guilt from his conscience.

Sometimes, we allow Satan's lies to convince us that the passing of time corrects the wrongs we commit. Friend, time has no power whatsoever in absolving sin. If there is iniquity in your history that has not been forgiven (by God and/or your fellow man), make it right today while there is still time.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18, ESV

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The Flock Of One

An objective study of the Bible leads one to understand the deadly nature of sin. Transgression of God's law is that which drives the proverbial wedge between a man and his Creator. There is no doubt that God gives ample space in the Scriptures to warning mankind of sin's devastating consequences.

If the people of God have any interest whatsoever in faithfully proclaiming the good news of salvation contained in the gospel, they will not water down the truth about sin and its eternal penalty. Those who preach the increasingly popular "Social Gospel" stay away from addressing anything that might be construed as even hinting at an allusion to something that might resemble the most vague reference to the concept of sin. For in doing so, they know the thousands who have "itching ears" will continue to pour into converted basketball arenas and gleefully place their offerings in the coffers.

That being said, if we are not on our guard, we can easily fall into the extreme at the other end of the spectrum. What if -- in our zealousness to convince the world of the poisonous effects of sin -- we treat sinners as the Pharisees and scribes did in the time of Jesus' earthly life? In Luke 15:1-7, we see representatives from both of these groups grumbling about the fact that Jesus was eating with sinners. Jesus taught them a parable about a single lost sheep. In hearing these words, they (Pharisees and scribes) and we ought to learn some important points:

1. God is concerned about the lost, and seeks them.
2. The Lord loves us individually.
3. People wander away from God through neglect.
4. The lost sheep may have known it was lost, but did not know its way home.
5. The path back to God is traveled through repentance.
6. Self-righteousness will deaden our concern for the lost.

Being a disciple of Jesus means having the same care and concern for a lost soul as Jesus, our Savior. Are you not glad He so regarded you?

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The Unchanging Jesus

The Bible says...

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
Hebrews 13:8, ESV

The book of Hebrews portrays the majestic Christ in the past, present, and future tenses:

1. Past -- Yesterday -- lower than the angels for a while (Hebrews 2:7a)


2. Present -- Today -- crowned with glory and honor; all things in subjection to Him (Hebrews 2:7b, 8a)


3. Future -- Forever -- all things under his feet (Hebrews 2:8b)

Aren't you thankful we have the opportunity to serve a God who is faithful instead of fickle? His character, plans, and blessings are invariably right, just, full of love, and full of mercy. He is worthy of our praise and adoration -- our utmost devotion and service. This day, tell someone who needs to know.

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