333. CONFIDENCE IN A WINDOW?

(The Abundant Life Series – Batch 4)

I recently heard a statement mentioned, which I found quite interesting, maybe because of how true it was of life in general. The statement went: “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”

This statement caught my attention because it is so frank, yet so true. It is accurate of life and the decisions we make, as it reminds us that when we make poor choices (which I admit I have been guilty of), we end up with poor consequences. It is a sure equation and one that is positively correlated.

Out of curiosity, when I heard the quote again yesterday, it remained in my head and this evening, I set about to do some research online, to ascertain who had authored the quote. I did not find the author but research indicated that it was an old quote that had been used even before the internet age. It was even found in novels as early as the 1980s and 1990s.

As I continued to scroll down, I saw where it was asked: What person was an example of “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes”?

The answer that followed was shocking, to say the least. An example was provided of what a man had once done, which was so foolish, that it cost him his life. The Article read:

“The best example there is, is the famous Garry Hoy, the Canadian lawyer who died from accidentally throwing himself out his office’s window. His story is widely known. Occurring on July 9 1993, Garry gave the last performance of his favorite party trick, throwing himself at office windows to show off their strength, to his very last audience, a group of prospective students.

That day, when Garry threw his full body weight, TWICE, at his office’s window at the Toronto-Dominion centre, the window frame gave way at the second hit and sent Garry flying off the 24th floor to his death.”

A picture of the man and another of what I believe, may have been a photo of footage taken of him as he went through the window that day were featured, as shown below.

This is so sad and is surely a testament to the folly we reap, when we insist on making foolish decisions.

Instead of putting his trust and confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who created him, he put it in the strength of a window, sure that it would be sturdy enough to bear his full weight and so much so, that he tossed his full body at it with abandon and without restraint, not once but twice.

Sadly though, he learned the hard way, that his trust had been misplaced. He had put his full confidence in the wrong thing, an inanimate object, that shamefully and literally, let him down colossally. The window, unable to bear the burden of his weight, eventually gave way and this man went down twenty-four floors to his death.

This reminds me of the Word of God, where the Psalmist, who had placed his full confidence in the Lord stated, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.” (Psalm 20:7-8)

Psalm 55:22 advised, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Yet, people have throughout the ages and to date, put their trust in so many other things, worthlessly to their detriment, such things having let them down, showing themselves to be wholly inadequate to sustain them.

Whereas Jesus could confidently and truthfully declare in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”, what people have placed their trust in outside of him, has never been able to sustain them or keep them afloat.

The Titanic was meant to keep all of its passengers buoyant and full confidence was placed in it as not ever being able to sink, some apparently having declared, that not even God could sink it.

What a way to tempt God! That was indeed a silly game to play because God will never be the loser. Not surprisingly, that ship that was touted to be unsinkable, sank, after it hit an iceberg.

Like the man who placed his trust in a window pane and those who placed it in a ship, some people in life have placed their trust in a man and he broke their heart or in their children, who eventually abandoned or disappointed them. Some placed it in their good looks, which faded as time progressed or in their career, a job or a business, which tanked. Some placed their confidence in their bank account, then lost their money or their political affiliation but was betrayed. Some placed full confidence in other assets, their education, their intellect, themselves, their status and associations, like their house, their car, their youth, their health, their family background and other useless things but alas, misery awaited ALL of them, for these things held no lasting satisfaction and none of these things could save.

Alas, placing confidence and trust in anything or anyone outside of Jesus is a sure recipe for disaster. In so doing, persons make themselves the victims of their own stupidity. For, placing one’s confidence and trust in something or someone other than the Lord is idolatry and folly. It is to senselessly build a life with what the Bible describes as “untempered mortar”, which the Bible makes clear, will come tumbling down.

Indeed, there is nothing outside of Jesus that can save and sustain. There is nothing outside of Jesus that mankind can place his confidence in 100% and not end up being ashamed and having regrets.

Psalm 118:8 wisely states, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Even moreso, an animal or an inanimate object. Psalm 33:16-22 also declares: “An horse is a vain thing for safety: Neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, Upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.”

Of the Israelites, Nehemiah 9:21 states of how faithfully God preserved them, “Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not cold, and their feet swelled not.”

I can certainly attest from my experience, that my confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ is not misplaced and never has been. He has never let me down or given way from the pressure or weight of my burdens. When I have cast them on him, no matter how heavy, he has handled them and succoured me by the power of his might. That is why today, despite many persons having thought that I was a goner for sure, I am still standing, still afloat and still have faith in my Jesus.

In Psalm 3:5 and 8, the Psalmist expressed, “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me… Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people.” Proverbs 14:26 also states, “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.”

(Written on 04^th May, 2024)

Dear Reader, if you found the above Article to be interesting, informative, beneficial or edifying, you may also be interested in reading the following:

Note 307 – ‘Where’s Your Confidence At?’
Note 98 – ‘Who Or What Are You Depending On?’
Note 102 – ‘Where’s Your Trust At?’
Note 95 – ‘Are You Too Puffed Up, Full Of Yourself Or Prideful?’
Note 172 – ‘What Do We Have To Show For Our Folly?’
Note 200 – ‘The Paradoxical Principles To Successful Living – God’s Manual’
Note 301 – ‘Born In Frailty, Died In Foolishness And Futility’
Note 49 – ‘Self-Inflicted Wounds?’