Years ago while on one of our many dates to the windy city, Dan and I decided to explore the Wrigley Building. Situated both along the Chicago River and on the Magnificent Mile, the Wrigley Building has been a landmark in Chicago since the 1920s.
We stood outside admiring the building and wondering if we could go up to the clock tower or possibly even to the 14th floor walkway suspended between the south and north towers.
Casually, we entered the building and got on the elevator.
Just acting like we belonged.
To our dismay we soon discovered the elevator did not go up to the 14th floor nor could we reach the clock tower. Being young and adventurous, we decided to take the elevator as high as we could and finish by going up the stairs!!
We can do this!
Upon reaching the 14th floor we were giddy and could not wait to open the door. But ... IT WAS LOCKED!
What now??
Disappointed that our adventure was over, we headed back down to the floor where we had gotten off the elevator. Unfortunately the door out of the stairwell was locked. And so was every other door all the way down to the 1st floor!! We were stuck!!
In a land and time without cell phones, and weighing our options carefully, Dan and I began banging on the door hoping someone would come to our rescue. Within a few minutes a very kind maintenance man appeared muttering something about us not being the only people who had gotten stuck in that stairwell.
As I read the verse for today's loser lesson, I was reminded of a time when I was spiritually stuck and lost without Christ.
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:3
I believed I was a good girl and that was enough to get me to Heaven. The struggle for me was admitting I was a lost sinner condemned to hell. I am not sure why it was so hard for me to repent. So hard to simply change my mind about my sinful state. I do not know why I thought I was better than anyone else who has to turn from their unbelief. All I knew was I was stuck.
I am not the only one who has been spiritually stuck. Some people have been stuck on the fact that there even is a hell! It is hard for them to imagine that a loving God could condemn man for all of eternity. Some are stuck that God could love us so much He would send His Son to die in our place. And some have been stuck that salvation is so easy. So simple.
Yes, simple ...realize you are a sinner, believe Jesus died in your place to pay the wages for your sin, and receive Him as your personal Savior.
I struggled for over a year stuck in a mindset that kept me from receiving the free gift of eternal life. But God's grace is faithful and one day I changed my mind about trusting my own goodness. I said out loud to myself, "I am lost and I need a Savior!" I repented of my unbelief and received Jesus as my Savior. Praise His name! He came and rescued me!
Loser Bible Study Series Theme Verse:
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.” Mark 8:35
“Lose” from the Greek word “Apollymi” means “to destroy fully.” It is translated shall in Luke 13:3, our verse for today.
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