Las Vegas: Symbol of Games of Change
Let’s Make A Deal was a popular TV gameshow hosted by Monty Hall, originating in 1963. Contestants were given the option to select the prize in a box, a cash offer, or whatever was behind one of three curtains. Depending upon pure luck and influenced by the energetic prompting of the audience, the contestants made their decisions and won anything from a pittance, a trinket, to a grand prize of thousand of dollars or gift of great worth.
In our real, everyday life, Christ offers us His own unique form of Let’s Make A Deal. His deal is this: believe in Me, trust Me, have faith in Me, surrender your life to Me and you will have eternal life in paradise. There are no boxes with hidden prizes and there are no curtains hiding gifts. Christ’s deal is straightforward and our decision appears simple. Yet, why do so many choose otherwise and wind up disillusioned, disappointed, and with nothing of true value?
Mark 7 tells us why.
In place of the three curtains in Let’s Make A Deal, Mark 7:13-14 confronts us with two gates. The gates are far from equal; in fact, they contrast greatly. One is wide, easily entered and favored by many for the pleasures, enticements, and satisfactions craved in this world. Christ tells us, but we do not see and understand, that this gate leads to destruction.
The other gate is narrow and not easily entered. The path to this gate forces us to pass through losses, delays, and disappointments. Often, this path appears hidden. We must intentionally seek it with all our heart and, having found it and entered through the gate, we enter into what Christ calls life.
Life is too important to treat it as a game show.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Be one of the few.
