Rock climbing, the “Xtreme Sport” of climbing sheer rock faces with no support other than hands and feet, has become widely known and popular. There are even imitation rock walls with little niches and knobs where would-be climbers can practice the needed skills. In earlier times there were “dare devils” who would climb up tall buildings with no climbing aids.
One such man came to Los Angeles some years ago. Calling himself the “Human Fly,” he announced that he would climb up the face of one of the large department store buildings. On the appointed day there were thousands of eager spectators gathered to see him perform the feat.
Without the aid of ropes or safety nets, he mounted slowly and carefully, now clinging to a window ledge, sometimes to a jutting brick, and again to a cornice. Up and up he went, and at last he was nearing the top.
The watchers below saw him feeling to right and left and above his head for something firm enough to support his weight and to carry him further. Soon he seemed to see what looked like a gray bit of stone protruding from the stone wall. He reached for it, but it was just out of reach. Gathering his muscles, he sprang for it, grasped the protuberance and, before the horrified eyes of the watchers, fell to the ground - crushed.
In his dead hand they found a dusty mass of a spider’s web. What he evidently mistook for solid stone or brick turned out to be nothing but dried froth!
How many today are thinking to climb to heaven by efforts of their own, only to find at last that they have ventured all on a spider’s web - and are lost forever!
Salvation is “not by works of righteousness which we have done.” Those who “being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:33For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:3)).
We do not ascend (climb) into heaven by anything we can do: The bravest deed - the utmost sacrifice on our part - is not enough. But what does Scripture say? “The word is nigh thee . . . that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:810).
Believes what?
Just this: “God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (1 Timothy 3:1616And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)). Do you believe this?