There were all kinds of people on the path from Abraham, forming the covenant with God, all the way to Jesus, who was the fulfilment of that agreement. God didn’t prop up a series of powerful rulers or wise teachers to fortify the lineage of the Messiah; every one of these names was associated with a story of flaws, struggle, and heartbreak.

I heard a sermon years ago from a local retired preacher who spoke about a little book he carries with him everywhere he goes that is a synopsis of the Bible. He hands the book to anyone he meets and asks them, “Say, do you know Jesus? Would you like to know Jesus? I would be happy to talk with you about Him.” Wow. Talk about evangelism!

S.O.S.! This acronym has been used countless times in modern history, often in popular culture, especially in movies. I imagine that this acronym has been spelled out by people in real life on deserted islands or other remote locations too. I’ve never been stranded for a long time on an island or anywhere else where I needed an emergency response or some kind of human intervention.

I occasionally watch the TV show Survivor, which is a “reality” game that is played on a far-away island in which the players, or “cast-aways,” have to figure out a plan to “survive” the conditions on the island for several weeks.

Decisions, decisions! People are faced with decisions every day, many of them about minor things, but others literally a matter of life or death. I have occasionally struggled with deciding what to eat at a restaurant, which clothes to buy, or where to go on a vacation. These situations are really minuscule compared to more serious choices.