Memory Verse: “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
To hear of someone winning a fight with a shark would be exciting, but I once tangled with a tarp (tarpaulin — waterproof material), and I nearly lost the battle too.
We lived on a farm in western Colorado near the great fishing and camping areas of the Rocky Mountains. As you might suppose, my father had plenty of gear for these sports — supplies which he eagerly unpacked each spring to air out. On this particular sunny morning, Dad had spread a large, heavy canvas tarpaulin out in the yard. I was only ten years old and full of fun and mischief. Using the tarp as a “stage” on which to perform, I played until I dropped. Then I stretched out on it to rest.
As I gazed lazily up at the blue sky, a sudden gust of wind flipped a corner of the tarn over me. Crazily. I started rolling and unrolling myself in the heavy old canvas. Had I been told I had to do this, I likely would have complained, “Roll up in that musty old thing? No way! I might suffocate!”
Young people sometimes behave this way. On some casual suggestion or challenge they might take the first step with an evil or dangerous habit, perhaps not even enjoying it at first. But just add the idea of daring to do it, and the bait is almost sure to be swallowed. And that’s what I did; I just kept adding one more roll-over each time, always hurrying to unroll in time to breathe. Then — you guessed it — I suddenly reached the “point of no return.” The old tarp held me tightly — I couldn’t unroll.
My frantic struggles only used what little air there was more quickly. I tried to call for help. My air was running out. Within moments, I drifted into the long, dark tunnel of unconsciousness.
I was just another victim of doing something foolish, such as we hear of all the time. How often has a young person, daring to try some dangerous habit, been trapped while thinking that they were in control and could just stop when the fun was over. But no... the habit holds them tightly, and many go down to death.
And what then?
“The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this [death] the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27.
But there was someone who loved me and cared enough about me to check what I was doing. Mother, no doubt led of God, had heard my last muffled cry. Instantly, she unrolled me from the tarp and quickly breathed the breath of life back into my limp body. Mother’s loving care of me was wonderful.
You may or may not be involved in a dangerous habit that looks tempting and exciting, but don’t be tricked; “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4. There is nothing funny or brave about sinning. It is your sure ticket to death and hell. That is the bad news. The good news is — “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15. As my mother loved me enough to check up on me in my foolishness, so our loving Saviour, who knows everything about you and yet loves you, offers the only remedy for sin. He bore the punishment for those sins “in His own body on the tree.” 1 Peter 2:24. He can finish your story of sin with a happy ending "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.
ML-06/05/1988