Illustrations

Two adventurous teenage boys who were good 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 the, 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 trying the laces.

His exaperated friend yelled at him, "Come on, man! Let's get out of here! 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."


APPLICATION:

Do you ever feel like your friends treat you like bear bait? When the going gets rough, they bail out on you. They remain friends with you until it costs them something -- then they ditch you.

One of the great things about having Christ as your friend is knowing that He will never leave you nor forsake you

Matthew 28:20
20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Hebrews 13:5
5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

He is the friend who is not only willing to lay down His life for you, but He has done exactly that.

John 15:13
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends"

ONLY JESUS CAN BE YOUR TRUE AND FAITHFUL FRIEND - He is the friend whom you can really rely on, Most of the time our friends put us down, forget about us, sometimes they are fair-weather friends, only remembers when they needed you, sometimes they leave you hanged.... Jesus is not the same I hope my dear readers if you haven't experience God's Friendship, you may be able to find Him here..... try JESUS!