The Bear In The Cave
By Johnny Angel
The Bear in the Cave
Two adventurous teenage friends were out spelunking (exploring
caves) when they found what appeared to be huge bear tracks deep
inside a long, cavernous tunnel. They bravely decided to keep going,
but they moved ahead slowly and with extreme caution, keeping their
eyes and ears open in case they actually encountered a bear.
Suddenly, from the darkness behind a rock jumped the biggest,
meanest-looking grizzly bear they had ever seen. Standing squarely in
front of them, the bear beat on his chest and roared like a lion, sending
a terrible sound echoing off the walls of the cave. Scared to death, the
two boys decided they had better run for their lives. They immediately
turned to make a dash for daylight.
Just then, one of the boys dropped to the floor and started untying his
hiking boots. He whipped the boots off, jammed on his running shoes,
and began tying laces.
His exasperated friend yelled at him, "Why in the world are you
changing shoes? We don't have much of a chance of outrunning that
bear anyway!"
Lunging to his feet and starting to run, the first boy replied, "I don't
have to outrun the bear. All I have to do is outrun you."
Do you ever feel like people treat you like bear bait? When the going
gets rough, they bail out on you. They'll be your friend... until it costs
them something -- then they ditch you.
But there is one Friend Who will never leave you nor forsake you. He is
the Friend who is not only willing to lay down His life for you, but He has
done exactly that.
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his
friends." Some think Jesus Christ's life was taken from Him. But He
uttered these words BEFORE He was captured and put to death, thus
proving He gave His life willingly. He also predicted he'd rise again...
Edited from Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice.
Copyright 1994 by Youth Specialties, Inc.
N Prayer,
Johnny <*}}}><