“Our life is show business,” said Carl Wallenda. He was known as the greatest tightrope walker of all time. Year after year and day after day, Carl climbed onto the high wire. Carefully and skillfully he would walk for long distances on the wire balancing himself easily with his long pole. By this past March he was 73 years old and had been walking the tightrope for 58 years.
Carl reminds us of the way many people live their lives. They are caress of the danger of living without Christ, and they go on day after day, year after year, living for themselves and for the world. They live only for this world’s pleasures, but like Carl, they are walking the tightrope of life. And, sad to say, it is just “show business.” They really have not faced up to the solemn reality of death and eternity.
Last March 22 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Carl was doing a special outdoor act to attract people to the circus performance. A 300-foot long wire was strung ten stories high between the towers of two resort hotels. Carl began his walk.
Then the wind began to blow. For awhile he leaned into the wind, skillfully balancing himself with his pole. He was halfway across when an unexpected sudden gust threw him off balance. He made a desperate attempt to save himself, grabbing the wire with his right hand, but the high winds simply blew him right off the wire. People screamed as he plunged to his death on the pavement The word of God tells us, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27).) Again, “Prepare to meet thy God.” (Amos 4:1212Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. (Amos 4:12).) Are you prepared to meet God, dear reader? Or are you walking the tightrope of life careless of your danger?
Passing onward, quickly passing,
Many on the downward road,
Heedless of their souls immortal,
Heeding not the call of God.
ML-06/25/1978