Jeopardy

There was one show that our household tuned in to every night when I was growing up. At seven o’clock no matter what was happening with dinner or homework, we would gather around the television and watch Jeopardy.

My Dad influenced all of us to be trivia buffs…he is still a fount of knowledge on a variety of topics. The rules were simple: the first one to shout out the correct answer got the credit for it.

It was a lot of fun engaging in that battle of wits with my family. I was usually able to get a few points with correct answers, and once I nearly cleared the entire category titled “Fish”, since I was a fishing fanatic.

I was saddened when Alex Trebek passed away in 2020. He was in our home every night for years and had hosted Jeopardy for thirty-seven seasons. I always wondered how well he would have done as a contestant since he made a career out of reading trivia.

Jeopardy got its name because each player risks their winnings on each question. If they get the question wrong, then that amount value will be deducted from their total, thus putting them in “jeopardy” of losing it all.

The Bible says that humans are in jeopardy of losing it all if they can’t answer one question correctly: What must I do to be saved?

Jesus says that unless we repent of our sins and we’re born-again spiritually, our soul will perish. (John 3:1-21, Acts 3:19-26) No matter how much trivial data we accumulate in life, the most important fact is realizing that we are all going to spend eternity somewhere: either heaven or hell.

You don’t know enough trivia to save yourself, and neither do I. The real game of jeopardy is only won by recognizing that Jesus Christ gave himself to rescue us from eternal destruction in a very real place called hell. He put himself in jeopardy, suffered, died, and rose again in order to defeat the power of death. He’s our only lifeline to eternal life.

We must repent, turn away from our sins, and turn unto the only One who can help us walk in His righteousness and victory. If you’ve trusted Christ as your Savior, you’re no longer in jeopardy of eternal damnation!

But if you’re relying on your human strength, intellect, good works, or finances to save you, then you’re still in jeopardy my friend. (Titus 3:5, Acts 2:38, John 3:36, Ephesians 2:8-9) I encourage you to seek the Lord today in prayer, open your heart to Him, and ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and be your only Savior and Lord. Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit and stay in His word daily.

Don’t live this life in spiritual jeopardy…live this life in eternal victory!