Karl Wallenda was a world famous tightrope walker who along with his family had performed death-defying feats hundreds of times on the high wire.   However, at the age of 73, while performing in front of a large crowd in Puerto Rico, Wallenda lost his balance and plummeted to his death several hundred feet below.   Despite the fact that Wallenda had done far more dangerous feats many times before without a mistake, that one slip killed him.

As we have learned already, the Bible teaches that no matter how good we may think we are or try to be, all of us have slipped off the perfect standard of a holy God.   The result of that slip is not just physical death, but spiritual death.   (“It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.”  Hebrews 9:27)   However, the Bible also teaches that God loves us so much that He has provided a safety net for us to fall into through the death of His perfect Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

One man, who realized he couldn’t stay on God’s perfect tightrope, once asked the important question: “What must I do to be saved?” and the answer given to him was: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved.” (Acts 16:30-31)   This question, asked by a jailer in Philippi hundreds of years ago, has been repeated millions of times over the centuries by many others like him, who have also believed in God’s safety net, Jesus Christ.   These people are called Christians.   We have learned so far in our study many truths and that truth is of utmost importance.   But truth alone is of no value to us unless we believe it and act upon it.   Where do you stand in relation to God’s truth?

4. Jesus doesn’t teach that having possessions or being rich is wrong.  Instead, He tells us not to worry about these things. (vv.22, 25-26, 29)

5. What two natural examples does Jesus give to illustrate God’s care for us and why we don’t need to worry?  (vv.24-28) ravens and lilies  How do they illustrate the benefits of trusting God?  As God takes care of the natural world which He created, He will take care of us too.  Therefore, we should trust God.

6. What are we to seek instead of wealth or possessions? (vv.29-31)  God’s kingdom

2. In the Bible, “grace” means to receive something you don’t deserve.   In this passage, salvation is also described as a “gift”.   From what you have studied so far, how do you think salvation is a gift, or act of God’s grace?
   
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3. According to this same verse, what can we do to receive this gift of salvation?   have faith

4. According to verse 9, what can we not do to receive this gift?  work for it

5. Can you think of some examples of how people try to work for salvation?  give to charities/religions, do volunteer work, join a religion, try to be a good person, etc.
    
6. Even though we can’t earn our salvation through our own efforts, why did God create us? (v.10)  to do good works__________________________

GOD’S SAFETY NET

I Peter 2:21-25 (NT 417)

1. How was Jesus uniquely different from us?  (v.22)  He committed no sin

2. What did this enable Jesus to do on our behalf?  (v.24)  bear our sins on the cross so that we might be healed/saved

3. What are we compared to?  (v.25)  lost sheep   What do you think this means?  We have separated ourselves from God and His purposes for us

4. In light of this, God has provided Jesus as the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls.  (v.25)  What do these terms tell us about what Jesus can do for us?

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(You may have noted several similarities between this passage and Isaiah 53 which we studied previously in Lesson 8)

HOW TO LAND IN GOD’S SAFETY NET

Isaiah 55:1-13 (OT 1116)

1. According to verse one, if you are thirsty God offers you water.  If you have no money you are still allowed to buy food.  What do you think this means?

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2. Give some examples of things we usually spend our money on or make a focal point  of our lives.  entertainment, house, pets, family, car, travel, education, etc.

     These things may be good or necessary, but can they satisfy us spiritually
     and eternally?  No!

3. Therefore, what are we encouraged to do? 

            v.2  listen carefully to Me (God) 

            v.2  eat what is good 

            v.3  listen, that you might live 

            v.6  seek the  Lord while He may be found 

            v.6  call upon Him while He is near

4. Why should we do these things?  

            v.7  He will abundantly pardon

            v.9  God’s ways are higher than our ways

            v.9  God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts  

            v.11God’s word accomplishes whatever He desires

John 7:37-38 (NT 174)

1. Jesus said “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.”

2. Jesus quotes from the Prophet Isaiah (55:1) and makes an incredible offer to us.   What is that offer?   He will give us living water if we are thirsty.

3. What do you think this “living water’ is?  ___________________________

4. What do we have to do to receive it?  Acknowledge our thirst, come to Jesus and believe in Him

The famous French acrobat, Charles Blondin, crossed the Niagara Falls in 1860 on a 335 meter tightrope suspended 50 meters above the raging water.   Then to the amazement of the crowd, he crossed it again pushing a wheelbarrow in front of him.   When his manager asked the crowd if they believed Blondin could cross back to the other side with a man in the wheelbarrow, they all enthusiastically expressed their confidence in the Great Blondin.   However, when the manager invited anyone in the crowd to get into the wheelbarrow, no one took him up on his offer.   The manager himself then got in the wheelbarrow and Blondin took him safely across.   Everyone had believed that Blondin could perform the feat, but no one acted on their faith.

Perhaps you have come to recognize your own spiritual thirst by now and want to receive the water of life that God offers freely to you.   However, it is not enough just to know the truth, you must act on it.   You have to get into the wheelbarrow and place all your trust in Jesus despite any fears or uncertainties you might have.   Only He can take you safely to the other side.   Only He can forgive your sins and give you a meaningful life that lasts for all eternity.   The Bible makes it very clear that you cannot get to the other side on your own.   You need a Savior.   You need Jesus.   He is the truth that can change your life forever.

Jesus says:  “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.”  (Revelation 3:20)   Opening the door to Jesus means: 1) that you recognize and repent of your sin before the Holy God who created you and 2) that you receive Jesus as your Savior by believing in Him.   Have you done this already?   If not, are you ready to get into the wheelbarrow and trust Jesus?

How Can I Be Saved?

If you are hesitating to trust Jesus and get into the wheelbarrow , perhaps it would be helpful at this point to review what we have studied over these past ten lessons.  You may be thinking, “Why do I even need to get into the wheelbarrow?!” Or, “Why do I need to be saved?”

One of the first truths we studied is that God created everything, including you.  This God loves you and desires to have a relationship with you for all eternity.  However, the Bible also tells us that we have sinned against God by repeatedly breaking His laws.  Therefore, we face God’s judgment and deserve punishment, as we are all lawbreakers.  That was the “bad news” that we learned about in lessons 2-5.

“The wages of sin is death”
(Romans 6:23a)

However, the “good news” (gospel) is that even though we are disobedient, God has provided another way for us to have an eternal and meaningful relationship with Him.  That way came not through anything we can do, but through the death of God’s Son, Jesus, on a cross.  God loved us so much, that He gave His only Son to receive the punishment we all deserve.

“But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Romans 6:23b)

To receive this gift of eternal life and forgiveness of sins, there is only one thing you can do.  You must believe in Jesus.  Your search for truth, which began with God, ends at the cross and is validated by an empty tomb.  It is not a matter of what you have done or can do, but rather what God has already done for you because He loves you.  The strength of your faith or the intensity of your feelings are unimportant.  God only asks that you believe in His Son, whom He has given to the whole world as their Savior.  Won’t you get into the wheelbarrow today?  Won’t you trust Jesus as your Savior?  Like the father of the prodigal son, (Luke 15), God is waiting for you with open arms.

You can pray to God something similar to this:

“Heavenly Father, I believe that you exist and that you love me.  I also realize that I have sinned against You.  Please forgive me and cleanse me.  I believe that Jesus died for my sins on the cross and rose from the dead.  I receive Him now as my Savior.  Please take control of my life and guide me.
                                                                    Amen”

If you have prayed this prayer from your heart, tell another Christian or pastor.  They will be glad to teach you additional truths from God’s Word to help you grow spiritually.