Survivor!

 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge; Proverbs 22:17 (NKJV)
    
    
    When I think of the simplicity of learning from the Word of God, and to be able to gain knowledge from the mistakes that were made by so many men, as recorded in the bible, it blows my mind! I cant understand why there are so many people that refuse to seek this truth themselves or apply what is obviously common sense. It makes me think of the TV show, Survivor. 
    
    It always amazes me at how this show works. They choose 16-people and split them into 2-groups of eight and get them to coexist in some remote part of the world and try to last for 39-days with hardly any provisions. They go through various tests and challenges and every 3-days someone gets voted off until there is (1) person left. That person is the winner, and they are usually rewarded with a hefty million-dollar check for their efforts. 
    
    In the beginning of the show they get dropped off and are to build a shelter to live in, so they dont have to endure the rain and other elements. Theyre not given any materials for building these shelters, and so they have to go out and figure what they can gather from the land, and construct their shelter with what is available. 
    
    Every new season, in the opening episode, there is usually someone who obviously knows how to build a shelter, and is very capable. But every year, it seems that the majority of people who are playing, simply cannot stand having someone else telling them how to do something, even if it is right! Whats even crazier is that even if the person who knows what to do simply does it and doesnt say anything, then theyre perceived as a threat, and then theyre targeted for that as well.
    
    But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, They hated Me without a cause. John 15:25 (NKJV)
    
    I guess people want to control things and do it their own way, even if its wrong! Isnt that the way pride affects us though? We can become so filled with pride, that we will attack the very ones who can help us. And we can insist on doing things in a way that is contrary to what we know to be right, just so we can have a shot at being a winner in the worlds eyes. 
    
    Q:But what does that one person usually have to do to win this show? How do they make it to the end of the show, and outlast their competition? 
    
    A:Well, they have to make alliances with others and become their friends so that they can get further along. Eventually they may drop their partner for someone who can help them get further along or give them some sort of advantage. So they will usually lie, cheat, deceive, and fabricate stories to keep their hidden motives in the dark. 
    
    For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:26 (NKJV) 
    
    But every season, we see by the wrap up show, that those things that were done in with impure motives, regardless of the apparent gain, have eventually come to light.
    
    For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. Mark 4:22 (NKJV)
    
    Hey, truth be known, the game of survivor is pretty much the real game of life. The same temptations that are presented and played out for the TV viewer to see, are the ones that will face in our life. 
    
    Isnt it funny how we can sit on our couch and see so clearly what is going on as we watch. We can criticize or point a finger at these people for doing things and making poor choices, and then we turn our TV sets off, and we become the real life contestants the next day.
    
    Q:So here is the question Christian; how are we going to play the game today? Will we play it with honesty, integrity, good moral character, and do it in truth? 
    
    Will we look to partner with the Lord? 
    Will we try to gain the help of the Holy Spirit? 
    Will we attempt to seek the prize of eternal life?
    Are we going to accept good counsel and advice from others?
    
    We can learn a lot, both good and bad, by watching others. We can glean even more as we read the Word of God daily. We have a choice today whether we will repeat the mistakes of others, or walk in the path of those who followed Jesus with all their heart and soul.
    
    If youve accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, then youve already won the game of survivor. You dont need to go to some remote part of the earth to try and do this.
    
    STUDY QUESTION: Can you see glean a plan for living your life, by the scriptures listed above?
    
    PERSONAL INVENTORY: Can you see people around you in your life who live their life as if theyre playing the game of survivor?
    
    APPLICATION: Be willing to share the truth with those who the Lord lays upon your heart. Share what God has done for you, and what He has given you. There is nothing more powerful than the testimony of a believer backed by the Word of God.