Balloon Boy

They called 911 to report the emergency.

Their homemade, helium-filled balloon had lifted off from the backyard of their Fort Collins, Colorado, home with their six-year-old son on board.

Emergency services reacted swiftly to reports that something was seen falling from the balloon, which reached heights of up to seven thousand feet.

Military helicopters were deployed, commercial aircraft were rerouted, and a massive search operation was launched.

But before long, the entire episode was declared to be a hoax. The young boy —who was found hiding in the attic of the family home— appeared to say on live television that the entire saga was “for the show,” interpreted to mean it was cooked up to generate publicity for the family. The boy’s father had been trying to secure his own reality television program but, along with his wife, was sentenced to jail time and community service.* Eleven years later, the couple was pardoned by the state of Colorado. In the executive order pardoning the couple, Governor Jared Polis wrote, “Not everyone earns the privilege of a second chance. But you have demonstrated that you deserve one.”† Fortunately for sinners, the grace of God operates differently.

The Bible is clear that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Sinners do not deserve a second chance. Yet, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Paul wrote that “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3) and that God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The thief on the cross died the tragic death of a common criminal.

King Manasseh sacrificed his children to the devil and led Israel into apostasy. Yet both men will be raised from the dead when Jesus returns at the Second Coming. God still forgives the undeserving.

All who trust in Him by faith receive the gift of salvation.