I was listening to a local radio station the other day, and they were interviewing this comedian that was doing a show here in Wichita. The day prior he had visited one of our local golf courses and was commenting on what it was like to swing a club in the 85% humidity, 105 degree heat we have been having.  ‘I just feel obliged to let the good people of Kansas know,’ he continued, ‘that there are other places in the world.  You don’t have to live in Hell!’  I was rock climbing at a local gym, and just about fell off the wall laughing.

After I thought about it for a while though, I realized what a brilliant quote that was.  For all of us, at one time or another, tend to live somewhere that we really don’t need to.  I’m not talking geographically here, I’m talking about the STUFF that we live in, those dark places that really do retch from the stink of hell, that sap our energy and our hope like a 105 degree day in Wichita.  And the craziest thing is that we just seem to grin and bear it. No attempt to move, no coming in out of the heat, we just accept it as the best that there is.

Jesus, however, said that he came to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and to release the oppressed (Luke 4:18).  And while He admitted that ‘the thief comes to steal and kill and destroy,’ He has come that we ‘may have life, and have it to the full.’ (John 10:10).  You see, Jesus is our ticket from Hell.  Not just Hell after we die, but from Hell here on earth. 

So come on, what are you waiting for?  Like the man said, ‘You don’t have to live in Hell!’  

To the King,

David