In America, in the 1920s, Charles Ponzi developed a get-rich scheme and carried it out to a size this country had never seen before. Posing as a reliable businessman, he promised huge returns over a short period of time for any persons who would trust him with their cash. Banks at that time were offering a return of 5% annually. Charles Ponzi promised an exorbitant 45% return over ninety days. At first only a few investors were willing to take the risk and invest their money with him. A few months later, by manipulating incoming funds, he was able to pay the huge dividends he promised to the first round of investors. When word got around of the huge profits it was possible to earn by investing with Charles Ponzi, money came pouring in from thousands of eager people who also wanted to get rich quick. Some folks even went out and sold their homes to obtain cash in order to take advantage of the golden opportunity. However, Charles Ponzi was not honest. He wasn’t investing the money at all. Many of the dollars found their way into his own pocket, making him sensationally rich, while the other part of incoming cash he sent to previous investors, lying to them, telling them that their investments had paid off as he said they would. This scam went on for months and millions of dollars were invested with Charles Ponzi. He became extremely influential in several important banks. However, his success was short-lived. People became suspicious of his dealings. An investigation was launched which eventually revealed that he was a confidence peddler swindling thousands of people out of their life savings. Charles Ponzi spent several years in prison for his crimes and was later deported to the country of his birth.
Recently another man, named Bernie Madoff, devised a “Ponzi Scheme” to bilk billions of dollars from investors. Like his predecessor, this man promised huge dividends to his investors but then never invested their money. As long as people rushed to invest their earnings with him, he was able to keep the façade of being a successful investor. His victims believed they had found a sure-fire way to get rich. The majority of the people who invested with him were not able to recoup any of their losses. This man was turned into authorities by his own son and sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison.
The size of both these schemes was staggering, but they are child’s play compared to the third Ponzi-like scheme I would like to tell you about. This third scheme has been going on as long as the human family is old, is almost universal in scope, and is generally undetected by men. The one running it is a master schemer and no other mind among created beings even comes close to his devious ability. He knows that in the heart of every human is the deep desire for goodness and happiness which can only be fulfilled by knowing and loving the God who made them. Ah, but this master schemer presented to the minds of men that they could certainly find the riches of happiness and goodness they desire elsewhere and by some other means. He convinced them to try to find the happiness and goodness they crave in the love of created things instead of the Creator Himself. It is as if he said, “Here is a shortcut to happiness and goodness: If you invest yourself in the things of time and sense alone, you will reap more of the benefits you seek.” Loving created things more than God, millions of souls fell into spiritual darkness, and as a result disorder ruled in their souls. The entire human race embraced his lies and fell into the bondage of sin. Instead of happiness and goodness, they found the ever-diminishing returns of the pleasure of sins for a season.
Are you trying to find happiness and goodness apart from the God who made you? Then you have fallen prey to this master schemer’s plan, and it is his serious intent to take you for everything you’re worth. We have been made in the image of God with hearts that are capable of knowing and loving God. Nothing less than this will bring fulfillment. “Fulfillment” means being filled fully. Our hearts have been made so large that only God Himself can fill them completely. Trying to fill our hearts with anything less can never lead to happiness, but, on the contrary, will lead to misery in this life and everlasting wretchedness in the life to come.
That you might set your feet on the path that leads to life, God sent His Son into this world. “The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:1414But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)). A Saviour is exactly what each one of us needs who have been deceived by Satan’s lies. At Calvary, the Lord Jesus was nailed to the cross and gave His life for sinners. He paid the supreme price for our sakes so that we might be cleansed, forgiven and receive a new life. Souls can only find salvation by faith in Christ. He is the only way that sinners can get off the slippery path of deceit and false promises, which ends in hell. Through Jesus Christ alone can they get their feet on the path that leads to life. “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” the Lord Jesus said. “No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)). By trusting in Him, souls that had gone astray can know God in truth and find the life He intends for them to live. They could never deserve or merit this life, but God in grace is pleased to offer it as a free gift to all who believe on the name of His Son.
Mr. Ponzi and Mr. Madoff created schemes that destroyed the wealth of many persons and families. Thousands of unwary persons saw a chance to get rich quick and rushed to place their funds with these men only to lose all. The prince of darkness is doing the same thing in this world. He is promising to make men rich by having them value created things above God. Falling for his scheme and promises of high returns, people end up not rich but in the abject poverty of alienation from God. Their futures are not bright with promise but dark with broken promises that never can be fulfilled. There will be no escape from eternal darkness for those who fail to get right with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Oh, won’t you see the danger of living a life where material goods are treasured in the place of God and come to the Saviour who can turn sin’s darkest night into the light of God’s blessed love? His love shines brightly, truly, and its rays can bring healing to every soul. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)).