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 <*}}}><