Have you ever been to the circus? One of the attractions there is usually a tightrope walker. He or she would climb high up to a rope or a wire stretched between two poles, and the idea is to safely walk from one end to the other without falling. Nearly everyone wants to make a hit in life, everyone but the tightrope walker, that is. He or she prefers just to get there safely.


Now some tightrope walkers use a safety net or harness to the wire, “just in case”, but the thrill of the show is watching the one who DOESN’T use a safety net or harness. From the moment they take their first step out, until they get to the other side, nobody can take a breath, and they’re sitting on the edge of their seat. And usually, there are a couple or more anxious moments when it looks like they aren’t going to make it. By the time they make it to the other side, IF they make it to the other side, our hearts are pounding. And we finally breathe again. Everyone stands and cheers when the walker safely makes it.

Well, life has its thrills, doesn’t it? But we don’t want to be sitting on the edge of our seat all our lives with our hearts pounding, scared nearly to death every time things get shaky. We prefer to be safe and secure. Isn’t that somewhat like us with our relationship with God? We want the thrills, but at the same time, what we really want is to live our life secure in the knowledge that we will make it safely across to God’s Kingdom.

Just like a tightrope walker, as a Christian, you have committed your whole life to walking across the wire. When you asked the Lord Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, you are throwing all of your life both now and forever onto Him, and you must trust Him completely and there is no other thing that you can trust in BUT the Lord Jesus to get you to God’s Kingdom. It is written in John 14:1-6,

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The Lord Jesus made it abundantly clear that He is your only key to getting into God’s Kingdom. Your good works won’t get you there, neither will your money plopped into the offering plate, nor your education. And even if you’re good looking like me, that will not help a bit. Your salvation is in Him alone, and there is no safety net other than Him.

Getting back to the “thrills” part, many Christians want to walk the slippery slope, they want to see how far they can get to the edge without falling, how much of the world they can indulge in without losing their salvation. It kind of reminds me of a couple taking their wedding vows, when asked if they will forsake all others and cleave only to one another. Now you wouldn’t expect the groom to say, Is it OK if my old girlfriend and I have a date now and then? Is a little kiss ok? Can I spend the night with her once in a while?

And yet many Christians use that same approach with Jesus. They want the thrills without the spills. Me? I prefer the safe way, I want to cleave only to Christ Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith. I had enough “thrills” in my old life to last me forever, and enough is enough! If I want Christ Jesus to be true to me, then I must be true to Him as well.

It is written in Psalm 29:25, The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. What does that mean? You don’t have a “backup plan”; it’s the Lord Jesus or nothing at all. Years ago He asked me something: “Jerry, if something happens I cannot save you, do you have a backup plan for salvation?” I said, What do you mean, LORD? He said, Do you have a backup plan with Mohammad, or Krishna, or Buddha to save you in case I can’t? I said, No, LORD, if you don’t save me, I’m lost. He said, That’s right, Jerry, just remember that and you will be fine.
So by remembering that one simple thing, I live my life accordingly, valuing above measure the ONLY way to salvation; that is, being IN CHRIST JESUS. I’m not interested in life in the fast lane or standing on the edge looking over to see what hell looks like, all I want is to be safe with the LORD. And when life is over here, all I want to hear is “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your LORD. And let me tell you, hearing “well done” is FAR better than BEING “well done”, if you know what I mean.

The Lord Jesus went through untold, unimaginable torture to purchase your salvation. If you don’t already know Him as your Lord and Savior right now, this is your time to make that happen. If you have doubts and fears as to your salvation, then you simply don’t know Him at all, because your salvation and approval by the heavenly Father isn’t based on your works, but rather what the Lord Jesus has done for you on the cross. WHY would you want to miss out on salvation when the way for you has already been paid in full? Don’t put off the most important decision you will ever make in your entire life. Do it now, and be safe with the LORD!

Oh, and while you’re at it, read Psalm 103:2-3, which says, Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. You don’t have to choose between salvation and healing, you can have BOTH! Why settle for “second best”? God has graciously provided all you need in this life and the next to be blessed and safe with him. Go ahead, ask Him for BOTH! You will make Him smile! Then believe He is good for His Word, because He IS!!