by: Russell McLaughlin

"Don't Dive Without It!"

            4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4

            In April 1988, the evening news reported on a photographer who was a skydiver.  He hopped from the plane along with numerous other skydivers and filmed the group as they fell and opened their parachutes.  On the video, as the final skydiver opened his chute, the picture went bonkers.  The announcer reported that the cameraman had fallen to his death, having left the plane without his parachute.  It wasn’t until he reached for the ripcord that he realized he was freefalling without a parachute.

            The event up to that point had been adventurous and exciting. But tragically, nothing could save him, for his faith was in a parachute never buckled on.  Faith in anything but the one and only God, revealed in the Bible, can be just as disastrous spiritually.  It is so important to have true faith in Jesus Christ before we dive into the dangerous realities of life.    

            As Christians we must always be prepared with true faith.  In Eph. 6:16 Paul says, “…above all else take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.”  Paul also told Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”  II Timothy 2:15 Paul proclaims in Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” As disciples of Christ, we must be devoted to studying, living, and sharing God’s word.

            Don’t dive into life without proper preparation and faith!