Playing With Death

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 8
 
The show was packed. There was "standing room only" in the arena, and the alligator show was running on as smoothly as usual.
In the 'gator lagoon the big reptiles looked so harmless—sluggish, sleepy, and lethargic. As he had done for months, Ron Chandler sat confidently on the back of one of the largest, a 250 pound-seven footer, pointing out particular features to the spectators.
Suddenly, without warning, the alligator attacked. Seizing Ron's wrist in his teeth, he jerked him into the water and began to pull and twist his arm.
A 'gator's teeth can close with a 2,000 pound-per-square-inch grip, and Ron was helpless in those jaws. What had seemed to be a well-rehearsed "playing with danger" routine suddenly became the reality of facing death, a particularly horrible death in the mouth of the alligator.
Two on-lookers jumped over the glass partition separating visitors from the lagoon and, grabbing a shovel, they crammed it down the 'gator's throat to release Ron. Losing his grip on his intended victim, the furious 'gator lunged at the rescuers until he was beaten back with the shovel and retreated at last into the water.
Ron Chandler had escaped death, but suffered severe cuts and fractures to his wrist and arm.
Neither Ron nor anyone who watched that show and saw the sudden, unprovoked attack will ever trust an alligator again! They may look too slow and sleepy to be dangerous, but—!
How many other things in this world look safe enough but can only bring disaster to one who permits himself to be deceived by them!
It is so easy to say, "There's no harm in this," and "I don't see anything wrong with that." "I only want a little fun—just a few harmless thrills."
Oh, be careful! Sometimes people are thinking "Peace and safety," but instead they meet "sudden destruction... and they shall not escape."
Ron Chandler played with death, and escaped. But he did not do it alone. Rescuers came, at great risk to themselves, and saved him. You must have a Rescuer too, one who can save you from the "sudden destruction" that is hiding under the innocent appearance of things.
Who is He?
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12).