I stepped out the door of the chalet into the bright winter sunshine and looked around at the different slopes where people were skiing. My oldest brother had already gone flying down the mountain, so I had to decide for myself where to ski. Since I was pretty much a beginner and wanted to ski by myself anyway, I picked a side of the slope where no one else was skiing. It looked as if I would probably end up somewhere near the ski lift at the bottom, so I was not worried about getting lost.
After buckling my skis onto the boots, I lifted the poles and pushed off. The cold, dry air stung my cheeks as I sailed over the smooth snow. After several seconds I felt like I was going too fast and tried to slow down by turning from side to side. It did not work; I had lost control! The smooth surface I was skiing on was solid ice, so none of my efforts could turn the skis in any direction.
Everything might have been fine if I had not panicked. I probably could have skied to the bottom, but I was so scared because of the speed I was going that I tried to stop right then. I dug the poles into the crust on the snow and almost lost them. I pointed my skis in a useless attempt to plow to a stop, but instead of stopping, my legs slid wide apart and one ski turned completely around, painfully twisting my knee. I finally fell head first and continued to slide down the hill a little way.
This slope had seemed like such a good one to ski down. I had reasons why I chose it and could not see anything wrong with it. It made me think of what God says in the Bible: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:1212There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12). God is not talking about a ski slope here, but rather a way of life. Most people decide on their own how to live their life, but only God’s way is right. God’s Son, Jesus, said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: 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).
My skis finally came off, and I tried to get up, but my knee and leg hurt so badly that I could not. There were no people in sight, and no one else was likely to be foolish enough to go down the same slope. So I started to crawl up the steep incline, dragging my skis. Then I heard footsteps crunching nearby. A lady was hiking up the mountain carrying her skis. She stopped when she saw me and asked if I needed help. I explained what had happened and that I could not walk. The lady was concerned and said my face looked pale. She picked up my skis and helped me up to the chalet. I thanked her, and she went on her way. My brother helped me get my boots off and into bed. And that’s where I had to stay for the next few days, until my leg was feeling better.
I got myself into trouble by choosing the way I wanted to go, which ended up being the wrong way down the mountain. I would not have made it back to the top without that lady’s help. In the same way none of us can come to God by our own standards or reach heaven without the Lord Jesus Christ. God sent the Lord Jesus to find us and bring us back from the wrong way we have chosen. “The Son of man [the Lord Jesus is called this, too, because He became a man] is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10). If you will just pray to Him right now, asking Him to be your Saviour, He will save you and set you on the right way.
ML-02/05/1984