Up the Down Escalator

Bible Reading: TITUS 3:3-7

“Can we ride the escalator while you shop?” Declan asked as Mom looked at some merchandise on the first floor of a department store.

Mom hesitated. “Well, okay—if you’re careful not to run or bother the other shoppers.” So Declan and his sister Kate rode the escalator all the way up to the top floor and back down.

“That was fun, but you know what would be really fun?” Declan told his sister. “Let’s try going up the one coming down.” He grinned. “Bet you can’t do it!”

Kate shook her head. “Mom wouldn’t let us do that!”

But Declan was determined to try it. “Watch this,” he said.

Kate watched, and she saw that each time Declan got near the top, someone was in his way and he was moved farther down again. It was obvious some of the people riding down the escalator were annoyed with him, but he didn’t seem to care. He just kept trying—until he bumped into the store manager just as he was about to reach the top. “Come with me, young man,” the manager said sternly.

Declan’s face flushed when he saw his mother waiting at the foot of the escalator. Now he was in real trouble.

“It sounds like you worked very hard to go up the down escalator,” observed Dad when he heard about Declan’s escapade later that evening.

Declan nodded. “I would have made it if nobody had stopped me.”

“You remind me of our sermon at church last week,” Dad said. “We talked about people who insist they can ride up to heaven on their own efforts, remember?” He shook his head. “They try so hard to be good, but they’ll never make it. Perhaps you could have made it all the way up that escalator, but no amount of effort will ever get us to heaven on our own. We can only get there by trusting Jesus.”

“I do know that,” said Declan. “He’s kind of like the up escalator.”

“That’s a good way to look at it,” said Dad. “He came down from heaven to save us, and He’s the only way back. We can rest and trust Him to save us from sin and give us eternal life.” CHARLES VANDERMEER

How About You?

Have you been trying to earn God’s favor by doing good things? Maybe you help other kids whenever you can, cheerfully do chores at home, and do your best to behave. It’s great to do things like that, but don’t think good deeds will get you to heaven. Jesus is the only way to be saved from sin and have eternal life. Trust Him as your Savior today. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page.)

Today’s Key Verse:
TITUS 3:5 NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE SAVED US. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Stop trying and start trusting