Elisabeth Malloy

As the name indicates, "backcountry skiing" is skiing in remote areas not
within ski area boundaries on unmarked and ungroomed slopes. Unlike groomed
slopes that one would find at a ski resort, the land and the snow pack are
not monitored, patrolled, or maintained. Backcountry skiing can be
hazardous due to avalanche, exhaustion, weather, cliffs, rock fall (falling
rock), and tree wells (voids or areas of loose snow around the trunk of a
tree enveloped in deep snow into which skiers can fall).

For people like Elisabeth Malloy and her boyfriend, Adam Morrey, the thrill
of backcountry skiing is worth the risks. Last Saturday, the couple did
some backcountry skiing in the mountains east of Salt Lake City, Utah, when
they triggered and were engulfed by a 700-foot wide avalanche.

Morrey had skied downhill only about 10-15 feet before being knocked over by
the slide. He emerged with his head and chest out of the snow. He
immediately began calling for Malloy, but there was no answer. Frantically,
he freed himself from the snow and his skis and began looking for her. He
soon found her by using avalanche rescue beacons that both of them were
wearing. Using an avalanche shovel, Morrey dug in the snow and found
Malloy's foot and then the rest of her body. She was unconscious, but
Morrey revived her by performing CPR. Then, with the aid of another skier,
they made their way down the mountain. A rescue helicopter spotted them
about 2 ½ hours later. The skiers were taken to a hospital in Salt Lake
City where Malloy was treated for frostbite in her toes and fingers.

The allurement of backcountry skiing to some adventuresome skiers can very
well describe the enticement that EACH of us faces regarding SIN....

James describes the pernicious process: "But each one is tempted when he is
drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived,
it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death"
(James 1:14-15; see also Romans 3:23; 6:23). The Apostle Paul also
describes the "avalanche" that results when people leave God out of their
minds and stray from His Word (Romans 1:18-32).

Make no mistake about it: sin IS alluring. The tempter (Satan) emphasizes
the temporary thrill - the "passing pleasures" (Hebrews 11:25) - but not the
deadly consequence of sin.

Morrey confessed that they knew about the risk of avalanche that day they
went skiing. "Our judgment was overwhelmed by the pursuit of having more
fun and skiing the steeper slopes and the great Utah powder," Morrey said.
That pursuit almost led to their deaths.

The pursuit of the passing pleasures of sin is always deadly, "for the wages
of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).

But God loves us so much that He gave His only Son to die on the cross for
our sins (John 3:16). Through Jesus we can have the forgiveness of our sins
and the gift of eternal life (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 6:23).

Jesus will rescue from the avalanche of sin those who will: place their
faith and trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sin (Acts 2:38). Those who
continue to trust in Him and follow Him faithfully, He will lead to eternal
glory (John 14:1-6).

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the beacon that sounds forth the Good News of
salvation from sin, and if YOU will answer His "call" through your trusting
obedience, He will come to your rescue.

Won't YOU?

David A. Sargent