Christian Living
With announcer Johnny Gilbert’s trademark introduction, “America’s Favorite Quiz Show,”™ begins a fast-paced half-hour with its one-of-a-kind quiz show format. Millions of viewers play along as contestants vie for lots of money and a brief fling with fame.
In the 1950s, the television quiz show world was tarnished by scandals that included producers giving the answers to contestants before the shows, thereby guaranteeing big wins and generating excitement that they thought would guarantee big audiences. Sadly, their folly was exposed and the future of the TV quiz show seemed in doubt.
Merv Griffin created a game show based on that idea: he would give the answers, and the contestants would figure out the questions. The rest is history.
Categories are put up on the video board, and answers are revealed at the request of the contestants. The contestants must ask the right question, the one that matches the answer. For example, the category might be “Game Show Hosts,” and the answer might be, “Alex Trebek.” The correct question would be (say it together, class): “Who is the host of Jeopardy!?” If the correct question is not asked, the player loses. So, it’s a matter of asking the right questions.
Getting along in life is a lot like Jeopardy!. The word itself means to risk loss, harm, injury or death. These hazards await all of us at some time. However, we can avoid some of these dangers by asking the right questions in life. As difficult as it can be to get answers to life’s most important questions, knowing what questions to ask can be just as thorny, but not impossible. In fact, they are already presented in the Bible.
The greatest jeopardy we face is our fate after death. So many people don’t know or can’t face the answer to the question of “What lies beyond the grave?” More than lots of money and a brief fling with fame hinge on the correct answer—eternity begins when the final buzzer sounds. The answer is flashed on the pages of Scripture: “As it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
Someone in Jesus’ day knew the right question: “A certain ruler asked him, ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” (Luke 18:18). He knew his life was in jeopardy, and he wanted to know how to win.
Jesus gave him an answer that surprised him: “Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Luke 18:22). The ruler went away sad, because he was very rich, and didn’t think following Jesus was worth his while.
Jesus was not asking him to save himself, but to face his idol. We can’t earn eternal life. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9). Jesus was making the point that eternal life is received upon the decision to follow Christ as Lord by faith. The ruler asked the right question, but gambled his winnings and lost Final Jeopardy.
The Bible puts all the answers to the category of Life out there for all to see. Just like we must tune in to see Jeopardy!, we have to read the Bible to find the answers. Jesus told the religious leaders of his day: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39, NKJV). “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).
Here are some good questions and answers that will keep your life out of jeopardy:
• “And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household’” (Acts 16:30, 31).
• “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” (Psalm 119:9).
• “What can man do to me? So we may boldly say: “ The LORD is my helper; I will not fear” (Hebrews 13:6, NKJV).
• “‘Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:5, 6).
• “‘So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’” (Matthew 6:31–33).
Do you want to be the “jeopardy” champion? Ask the right questions!
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