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Elusive Loopy
(General Teaching Idea)
(Salvation)
 
 
He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.  Isaiah 59:16
 
The Basic Bible Truth
 
The work of Salvation, the gift of Salvation, is a huge matter on God’s part.  For us, we need simply to accept and receive this amazing thing called Salvation.  We must never take for granted the tremendous cost and effort God put forth to give us this option.  On the fourth day of creation He spoke the entire universe into existence.  Billions of galaxies, each filled with billions of stars—and He called it “finger work”!  But when He describes the effort required to bring Salvation to us, He talks of using His strong arm to perform the feat.  A striking contrast in effort and achievement.
 
The Object
 
A Four-Foot Piece Of Cord
The Lesson
 
In my younger years, my parents thought it a wonderful thing to enroll me into the local Boy Scout troop.  I thoroughly enjoyed what I learned in that organization.  One thing that has stayed with me over the years is the ability to tie the knots that I learned during my tenure there.  I know them all.  I took that knot tying merit badge seriously.  I would like to teach you my favorite, the “Elusive Loopy”.  It may well be the simplest knot in the world to tie, but it is not easy.  What I mean by that is that it is truly a simple knot, a plain loop.  And the instructions will seem very, very simple.  But it is not easy to tie.  I will give you the instructions very slowly and as plainly as I can, but I will warn you, I have never met anyone yet who can tie this knot the first time they try.  It took me nearly 4 hours to master this knot.  It is simple, but not easy. 
 
(At this point, show in detail how the knot is tied and allow time for their attempts and resulting frustration.)
 
It reminds me of Salvation.  It is so simple.  On our part, we simply need to understand that we cannot live a sinless life.  We need God.  And all that is required is belief.  Belief that Jesus is who He said He is, and acceptance of Him as Lord and Savior.  What could be simpler?  But it is not easy, not on His side of the equation.  It takes the strong arm of the Lord to work our Salvation.  He went to the cross and died a horrific death, to pay the penalty for our sin, He gives us the Holy Spirit, He imputes the righteousness of Christ into each of our hearts the moment we are saved, He forgives our sins from our past and gives us a clean slate…the list goes on and on.  The point is, Salvation, for us, is simple.  For God, it is not easy.  It is extremely difficult.  He said that creating the billions and billions of stars in one day was finger work, but Salvation required His strong arm to accomplish.  Quite a contrast, don’t you think? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide
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