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An Arab chief tells of a spy who was captured and then sentenced to death by a general in the Persian army. This general had the strange custom of giving condemned criminals a choice between the firing squad and the big, black door. As the moment for execution drew near, the spy was brought to the Persian general, who asked the question, "What will it be: the firing squad or the big, black door?"
The spy hesitated for a long time. It was a difficult decision. He chose the firing squad.
Moments later shots rang out confirming his execution. The general turned to his aide and said, "They always prefer the known way to the unknown. It is characteristic of people to be afraid of the undefined. Yet, we gave him a choice."
The aide said, "What lies beyond the big door?"
"Freedom," replied the general. "I've known only a few brave enough to take it."
How like people who resist the love of God, and the calling of Jesus Christ. For them, following God is like walking through the big, black door -- they're afraid of the undefined. And so they settle for a life that is undermined, broken, destroyed by the consequences of sin -- without ever opening the door to FREEDOM in Christ. How sad, how foolish, how ... human.
What choice have YOU made?
The spy hesitated for a long time. It was a difficult decision. He chose the firing squad.
Moments later shots rang out confirming his execution. The general turned to his aide and said, "They always prefer the known way to the unknown. It is characteristic of people to be afraid of the undefined. Yet, we gave him a choice."
The aide said, "What lies beyond the big door?"
"Freedom," replied the general. "I've known only a few brave enough to take it."
How like people who resist the love of God, and the calling of Jesus Christ. For them, following God is like walking through the big, black door -- they're afraid of the undefined. And so they settle for a life that is undermined, broken, destroyed by the consequences of sin -- without ever opening the door to FREEDOM in Christ. How sad, how foolish, how ... human.
What choice have YOU made?
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