Rev. Lin Smalec Salem Church, Waynesboro, PA
TRUE REALITY - SURVIVOR
20 November 2005
A couple had been fighting over the purchase of a new car for weeks. He wanted a new truck. She wanted a fast sports car. The discussion was getting very heated when finally the wife stated, "Look, I want something that goes from 0 to 180 in four seconds or less, and that’s all there is to it! My birthday is coming up and you’d better surprise me, or it’s gonna get mighty lonely for you around here, if you get my drift!" When her big day came, the wife went out to the garage, but there was no new car. Angry, she went back into the house looking for her husband, but he was not at home. Frustrated and upset, she went into the bathroom to get dressed, and there, sitting on the floor and wrapped in a big red ribbon, was her birthday present - something that would go from 0 to 180 in four seconds or less - a brand new scale! (1)
Oh my - I’ll let you imagine the state of that couple’s marriage! But this sad joke proves one important thing - our decisions and actions matter! Now for the last few weeks, we have been using the lens of reality TV shows to illuminate some facets of true reality - the reality of the Christian life. And we will end this series today by acknowledging that one of the most important lessons we learn from our study of reality TV is that our decisions and actions matter. No where is this more evident than in my favorite reality TV show - “Survivor”!
“Survivor” is the granddaddy of the reality TV shows, the first truly great and popular show of this type. In “Survivor”, sixteen to twenty people are marooned for 40 days in a wilderness setting of some kind - currently they are in the jungles and Mayan ruins of Guatemala. They are divided into two tribes, who compete against each other in both physical and mental challenges for rewards such as food and blankets. Every few days, the tribes compete for the all-important “Immunity Idol”. The tribe that loses this competition must go to “Tribal Council” and vote off one of their members. When it gets down to about ten survivors, the two tribes merge into one tribe. Then the competition becomes individual, every person for themselves. Those who are voted off at this point join a jury, who decide at the very end which of the last two survivors has earned the right to be the “Sole Survivor” and win the million dollar prize.
I find “Survivor” fascinating to watch not only because of the creativity of the various challenges and rewards, but for the human element. People form friendships and alliances that can either help them or hurt them in the game. There is also plenty of nastiness, back-stabbing, selfishness, and lying. The survivors must always keep in mind that while they are trying to get ahead at the expense of others, those others could also come back at the end to vote against them. In the game of “Survivor”, it is very evident that decisions and actions matter!
Scripture supports this fact over and over again. Our decisions and actions matter. Of course, the most important decision that Scripture calls us to make is who we will allow to be the Lord of our life. In the Old Testament, the people of Israel are called to make the decision to turn away from idols and false gods, and faithfully follow Yahweh, the Lord God, the Creator of all. In the New Testament, this call is expanded to all people of all nations, who are called to faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Listen to Jesus’ own words on this topic, from the Gospel of John: (READ John 3:16-21).
According to Jesus, our decision matters - our decision to believe and follow Jesus, to accept him as the Lord and Savior of our life, is a decision that has not only earthly, but also eternal consequences. Our decision matters!
But it doesn’t stop there. Our decision impacts our actions. Our decision for salvation should change our actions. This is one way we can know if our salvation decision is more than just an intellectual assent or an emotional response to the moment. Our decision should impact our actions. This is strongly supported by Scripture. Most of us know John 3:16 by heart, but not many of us know the equally important passage of 1 John 3:16 - (READ 1 John 3:16-18).
If we claim to follow Jesus, than our actions should show that fact. You know, I have found it truly interesting to watch those competitors on “Survivor” who claim to be Christian. In a game that, at it’s core, depends upon outwitting, outplaying and outlasting the others, how can a Christian advance in the game without giving in to some pretty un-Christlike actions?
In the Spring of 2002, “Survivor-Marquesas” was won by Vecepia Towery, a 36-year old office manager from Portland, Oregon. Vecepia was an outspoken Christian, who was always talking about how the Lord was with her and was often shown in prayer. But sadly, Vecepia was no better than her fellow contestants when it came to backstabbing, lying, and deceiving. In the finale of the show, when it was down to three contestants, Vecepia changed alliances and broke promises with great ease. “There was such a gap between Vecepia’s talk and her walk that it was obvious to her fellow contestants, and they confronted her with it in the final episode. [One of the jury members] said sarcastically, “You beat me at my own game. You lied better than I did, you manipulated better than I did, and you deceived everybody better than I did. So congratulations.” But the confrontation did not seem to effect Vecepia. She sat there and smiled. During a post- “Survivor” interview, she said, “I had the feeling that God would lead me (to victory), and he did.”” (2)
Wow! What a great Christian witness, huh? Can you hear a story like that and not understand that our actions matter? No wonder so many people out there believe that most Christians are hypocrites. We say one thing and do something else. Folks, as followers of Jesus Christ, our decisions and actions matter!
Compare Vecepia’s story to that of another survivor from the Winter 2005 version, “Survivor Palau”. Ian Rosenberger was a 23 year old dolphin trainer from Florida. Ian swore he would always tell the truth, and struggled hard to keep that pledge. At one point, he was put on the spot and gave in to temptation - he lied to ensure he would stay in the game. This action resulted in great damage to Ian’s friendships with others, who no longer trusted him. Ian was one of the three finalists, and in the final competition, he decided to lose the competition purposely so his two friends could go forward. He made very clear he was doing this to atone for his actions, and that their friendship and respect were more important to him than the million dollar prize. The reaction of most people to Ian’s decision was very sad - for of course, most thought he was crazy to give up the big bucks! But Ian continues to stand by his action, and felt it was the right thing to do for the sake of his own conscience and self-respect.
Jesus taught clearly that our decisions and actions matter. Many of his parables, his teaching stories, teach this fact. One of the most powerful of these teaching stories is found in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25 (READ 25:31-46).
Now there is much we could study about this parable, but the point to notice for today is this - at the final great judgment, we will stand before the Lord, and we will not only be held accountable for our decision to follow Christ - we will also be held accountable for our actions toward our fellow human beings. Our actions will be the evidence of our decision. This is the part of the parable that many people miss. If we have decided to follow Jesus, that our actions will reflect that decision. We will feed the hungry and the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, care for the sick, visit the imprisoned. We will do these kinds of things because we love the Lord - and in so doing, it will be as if we did it to the Lord himself. And those actions will have eternal consequences.
Brothers and Sisters, if there’s one thing we learn from “Survivor”, it is that our decisions and actions matter. If you have never made the decision to follow Jesus, to accept him as the Lord and Savior of your life, then I encourage you to make that all-important decision today. Don’t put it off, don’t wait! I’ll be leading us in prayer in just a few moments, and all you have to do is agree in your heart with that prayer, and welcome Jesus into your life.
And if you have already made that decision, then, dear ones, it should show in your actions! Continue to learn, continue to grow, continue to serve, and continue to hold one another accountable, so that together we might be able to stand proudly before the Lord one day, and know that our actions were faithful and true.
Let us pray:
Loving God, thank You for reminding us today that our decisions and actions matter. Thank You for creating us with free will, so that we might freely turn to You. We all have sinned, Lord, we all have fallen short of the glory to which You call us. Forgive us, we pray, for all that keeps us separated from You and from our brothers and sisters. Lord, there are some among us today who have never made the decision to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. You know who they are, and You know the current state of their heart. Hear their prayers, Lord, as they turn to You. Fill them with Your love and the power of Your Holy Spirit, so that they might find joy in giving their lives to You.
And Lord, strengthen and enable each one of us to serve You with all of our actions. We dedicate to You our time and our talents, our abilities and our finances, all that we are and all that we have. May everything that we do bring glory and honor to Your Name!
In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
RESOURCES:
1) Cited on PreachingToday.com, submitted by Peg Beukema.
2) Adapted from “Reflections on Survivor” by Tony Grant, sermoncentral.com.
3) Some concepts adapted from “Survivor Reality” by Jay Robison, sermoncentral.com
4) Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Volume 2 © 1989 by S. P. Publications, pp 511-515.
5) The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible Volume 1 © 1991 by Alpha-Omega Ministries, Inc., pp 546-550.
