Deal Or No Deal

Evangelist Herman E. Wesley III

DEAL OR NO DEAL

John 10:10 (NKJV)

The Memorial Service Message

for Clara Shameka Whatley

Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.

NorthPointe Church of Christ Montgomery, Alabama

THE TEXT

John 10:10 (NKJV)

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

INTRODUCTION

The other day, early Christmas morning, when a large number of us were gathered at the home upon hearing the news of Meka’s death, there was a young man walking in the crowd. He had on a T-Shirt, and when I looked at it, I saw the message behind it. The gentleman may even be here today. It was a simple shirt that had the logo of a game show on it, and it read..TAKE THE DEAL.

Hosted by Howie Mandel on NBC, "DEAL OR NO DEAL" is an exhilarating hit game show where contestants play and deal for a top prize of $1 million in a high-energy contest of nerves, instincts and raw intuition. Each night, the game of odds and chance unfolds when a contestant is confronted with 26 sealed briefcases full of varying amounts of cash – ranging from a measly penny to $1 million. Without knowing the amount in each briefcase, the contestant picks one – his to keep, if he chooses – until its unsealing at game’s end. The risk element kicks in when the player must then instinctively eliminate the remaining 25 cases – which are opened and the amount of cash inside revealed. The pressure mounts as in each round, after a pre-determined number of cases are opened, the participant is tempted by a mysterious entity known only as "the Banker" to accept an offer of cash in exchange for what might be contained in the contestant’s chosen briefcase – prompting Mandel to ask the all-important question – Deal or No Deal? As each case is opened, the likelihood of the player having a valuable cash amount in his or her own case decreases or increases. Viewers will see if, truly, fortune favors the bold. The contestant knows that as long as the larger cash prizes haven’t been opened, the Banker’s deals will only get higher. And if the conflicted contestant accidentally opens a case with a bigger cash value – the Banker’s offer could suddenly evaporate.

With this concept in mind, let me share with you a verse from scripture, as I address, briefly, the subject DEAL OR NO DEAL.

John 10:10 (NKJV)

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

This text is really part of a discussion Christ is having relative to the shepherd and the sheep, and the dangers of one coming into the sheepfold to destroy the sheep. He gives His audience some insight on how to tell them apart, how to distinguish between the good shepherd, and the thief. I know I don’t have to spend a lot of time this morning helping you identify Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

If I were to draw a parallel this morning, I would identify Howie Mandel as Jesus. He wants you to win. He does not force you into a decision, but he lays out your options to you. You must deal with the consequences of the decision you make. You are the contestant, and for some of you, you have already chosen a case. The case you have chosen is eternal life. It sits, ready and waiting for you. The banker...I liken him to the Banker. He wants to offer you something to get you to change your mind, to doubt the decision you’ve already made. He wants you to take chances, roll the dice, and his aim is for you to lose. You see, 1 million dollars is the prize. Anything else is a loss, and if he can keep you from getting the prize, he has done his job. If all you want is a big house, you can get it...but its not the million dollars! You just want to be able to pay your bills...you can do that...but its not the million dollars! He wants to lure you with greed and chance. He wants your eyes to sparkle with lust as you push on and on and on. But hear God’s Word when it says:

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole

world and forfeits or loses his soul? Or what will a

man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)

As the Good Shepherd this morning, the Master is saying to you I want you to have abundant life, but in the midst of His Will for your life, the Banker is making you some offers that he really can’t deliver on.