Skydiving With No Parachute!

When you skydive, it's just a matter of time before you hit the ground.  If you're clinging to a trustworthy parachute, you'll be fine.  Otherwise, you're dead.  Skydivers make sure they're clinging to a trustworthy chute.  Their lives depend on what they're clinging to for salvation.  If there's the slightest doubt about a chute, they'll pass by it for one they can depend on.

Though it's a matter of time before we die and hit eternity, most people assume the beliefs or hopes to which they cling can be depended upon for their eternal salvation.  They're like a skydiver who nonchalantly picks up any pack hoping it's a trustworthy spiritual parachute, but failing to make sure it can be depended upon to land them safely into heaven.  Just as it is vital for a skydiver to make sure his chute is trustworthy, so it is vital that we make sure the beliefs to which we cling about our eternal salvation are true, certain, and trustworthy.


Mere belief that an ordinary backpack will save you from a fall won't make it so.  In the same way, mere belief or hope in the wrong thing won't save you from the judgment to come (2 Cor. 5:10) or the hell that awaits those who fail to cling to the only Savior, Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Rev. 13:8, 20:15).


I spoke to two men--Deonta and Damien--who hoped the beliefs to which they were clinging would land them safely into heaven, but both were hanging on to empty "packs" that cannot save.  When asked why he believed he was going to heaven, Deonta said "he was trying to follow the rules."  When asked about God's rules--the 10 Commandments--he admitted he had broken them countless times.  He quickly realized that clinging to his ability to keep the rules was like skydiving without a parachute, because there is none righteous enough to enter heaven, not one (Rom. 3:10).  I then explained to Deonta that he needed to turn to God, repent of his sins, and cling to Jesus Christ by faith for his eternal salvation (Acts 20:21).

Damien hoped he would go to heaven, but wasn't sure.  He was definitely skydiving without a parachute, clinging to nothing but empty hope.  I had the joy of sharing with him the full gospel--that God has set a day when he will judge the world in justice and righteousness through Jesus Christ (Acts 17:31); when judged by God's perfect moral standard we will all be found guilty (Matt. 5; Luke 18:19; Rom. 3:23); we all deserve the penalty for our countless sins against God, which is death (Rom. 6:23); but God is rich in mercy and poured out his justice on Jesus that we might receive grace, mercy, and forgiveness if we will turn to Jesus, repent, and trust in him alone by faith (Acts 17:30; Eph. 1-2:9).  I urged Damien to repent and trust Christ before it's too late.  I also gave him some information on how to grow in his faith and follow the Lord.

In Hosea 4:6, God lamented that people perish for lack of knowledge.  That is true today, just as it was in Hosea's day.  People lack knowledge of God's Word and the way to salvation.  Will you share the truth with someone whose life may depend on it?  I pray Deonta and Damien are clinging to Jesus Christ alone for their salvation and are following him today.  Their eternal destiny depends on it.