Escape Artist

The year was 1988; at 22 years of age I was a brash, confident albeit young escape artist on a life or death mission. I was about to show the world who was the "Greatest Escape Artist Of All Time," with one huge Herculean effort. Handcuffed and locked in a freight box, I was to be thrown from an airplane at 13,500 feet, a height more than 10 times that of the Empire State Building. The proposed task would be to complete an escape from the box in freefall, to skydive away from the plummeting missile, and to deploy my parachute before impact. This escape when attempted would be my seventeenth parachute jump, a fact that made most seasoned skydivers cringe. I had announced to the Associated Press my intent to do this escape before even making a single parachute jump, and now with only a little over a dozen I was ready to cheat death. During my skydiving training I had overheard some of the expert jumpers doubting the improbable feat. They knew that unlike a magician, I did not use handcuffs and locks that were altered to facilitate escape. This knowledge, coupled with the absence of "emergency plans," created a somber atmosphere at the drop zone. Even members of my own team encouraged me to bow out gracefully, citing two skydiving fatalities that had occurred only a few weeks before. Stubborn and determined, I knew overconfidence could kill but felt I was operating within my ability. Though new to skydiving I had been listed in "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" as the King of Escapists, a title I had earned through my jail cell escapes. Experienced in both underwater and land escapes, I went into the attempt knowing my first aerial escape could be my last.

On August 28, 1988 the moment of truth arrived. Certified locksmiths verified the handcuffs and locks before they would be put to use. I strapped on a parachute and helmet, took a few deep breaths, and stretched out my hands. Several pairs of handcuffs were clamped on my wrists and I laid down inside the coffin- like box. The lid was closed and locked shut while I, inside, gritted my teeth refusing to back down. The aircraft roared into the sky as my family agonized on the ground. My trainer, Roger Nelson, and another skydiver were to jump with the box and prevent it from spinning in the air. The centrifugal force of a spin could keep me a prisoner even if I were to defeat all the locks successfully. The jumpers reaffirmed to each other that if I wasn't out by 2000 feet, they would release the box and save themselves. I heard their affirmation.

The air was getting thinner as we approached altitude, so I did my best to breathe gently and conserve oxygen. Then the announcement was made that we had reached altitude (13500 feet) and would begin the test. The jumpers began their countdown sequence. Five, four, three, two, one; the box was launched into space, and I was thrust into the biggest task of my career. Seconds hung like hours as I paused for the box to settle into freefall and terminal velocity. I began to work feverishly inside the box, systematically defeating each lock just like I had done hundreds of times on the ground. Keeping my complete attention focused on the task, the cuffs were off with 25 seconds left. The door lock succumbed to my workmanlike attack, and I heaved my body against its hardwood bracing. I swooped from my falling prison and welcomed the cool August air that greeted me. Relying on Rogers's expert teaching, I skydived away from the box and deployed my parachute. Gently floating to earth, I screamed my victory and accepted the plaudits of those watching.

Since that time I've reaped much of the acclaim I had sought, having appeared on television numerous times including my own network special. Ever active, I continue to perform both live and on television.

This feat, though impressive, is not my greatest escape. My greatest escape occurred as a young boy when I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. These days, having realized the powerful symbolism my escapes bear to salvation, I feel privileged to help local churches preach the true freedom found in Jesus Christ. Often using a strait- jacket, I use its binding straps to illustrate the spoken message.

We are all truly in a life or death escape. Nobody really cheats physical death; we all have to die (Heb 9:27). Scripture tells us we will all stand before God and be judged according to His perfect sinless standard (Rom 14:12). Thanks be to God, however, he gave us an escape plan, a divine strategy laid out plainly in the Bible. The plan is not a religion but the opportunity to have a real relationship with our creator. The Bible teaches humanity both how we got into trouble and how to get out of trouble. The Word Of God reveals that we all need a parachute as we fall out of control, bound in the shackles of our sins and separated from a holy God (Rom 3:23). Every moment in this condition we run the risk of sudden death and spending eternity in the real literal hell the Bible warns us about (Matt 13:42). Yet, while in the freefall of sin, God rich in mercy provided the parachute we needed in Jesus Christ (Rom 5:8). All we need is the willingness to turn from our sin (repent), to accept the parachute of God, (Jesus), and to go where the jet stream of His Spirit would take us. "Why is Jesus our parachute," you may ask. God's parachute was not without great cost. Jesus Christ- God in the flesh- lived the perfect life we couldn't and became our fall- guy, or substitutionary ransom, on the cross of Calvary. He took the penalty for our sin. You see, in the eyes of a holy God, ALL sin, even that little white lie, is recompensed with eternal death (Rev 21:8). Having died in our place, he reconciled us unto himself. On the third day after His death he rose again as Victor and King, defeating sin, death and the power of the devil for all that would accept him. That is why no other parachute or religious system will work; only Jesus paid the debt for our sin (Jn 14:6).

Unfortunately, in life we never know our altitude or how far away we are from meeting God. My beloved brother in Christ, Roger Nelson, has now gone on to be with the Lord and I still remain. The uncertainty of "when" makes it vital to escape as soon as possible (2Cor 6:2). Accepting Christ is a choice we all have to make for ourselves. Without Him, there is no escape. With Him, the sky is the limit.