Since its debut on May 31, 2000, one of the most popular television programs is CBS's "Survivor." The sites for these 12 seasons of "Survivor" have been 12 locations, with the current one being Panama. In the basic premise of the program, 18 people are selected and divided into tribes. These castaways are "marooned" or "stranded" in exotic but rugged locations to "live off the land" in order to see who ultimately "survives." The locations are usually in the wild of various tropical islands and continents.

The use of the word "survivor" in this program is a bit misleading. We generally think of a "survivor" as the only one still living. In this program, "survivor" means a person who engages the other castaways in this "game" so as not to be "voted off" by the other members of the group. Season after season, some castaways verbally "back-stab" with lies and deception to survive. Ultimately, a jury of survivor peers votes on a winning survivor who receives the $1 million dollar grand prize.

The slogan of the show is "OUTWIT, OUTPLAY, OUTLAST."

OUTWIT The contestants must keep their wits and "think ahead" of the others. Shrewd cunning, outright lies, and the deception of "friendship alliances" are seen in most every episode.

OUTPLAY Contestants compete against each other in various physical and mental challenges in order to receive the prize of "immunity" from being voted out. The best players receive immunity and have the potential to survive the longest.

OUTLAST After a little over a month of "living off the land," one survivor outlasts the others through winning various challenges & immunities, & the peer jury votes for one survivor to become the ultimate survivor and winner.

Consider some spiritual lessons from such a program:

1. Groups would like us to conform to peer pressure. The Christian must remember not to allow the world to pour us into its mold but to be transformed by renewing our minds, in keeping with the Lord's will (Romans 12:1-2).

2. There are true friends and there are false friends. Our true friends give us good advice, tell us the truth, and have our best interests. False friends give us bad advice, lie to us, deceive us, and don't really care if we are hurt. Lies and deception are still wrong (Ephesians 4:25). We need to be discerning regarding true friends.

3. On this earth, we are all terminal (Heb. 9:27). No human will survive forever on this earth, but our eternal soul will survive beyond this earthly life.

4. Material things are not really so important (Matthew 16:26). To gain the whole world and lose one's soul is the greatest loss that could ever be calculated.

5. Every human will survive beyond this life on earth-in one of 2 places throughout eternity - heaven or hell (John 5:28-29; Revelation 21:1-8).

If you follow God's word: your WITS are sharpened by His wisdom; you are faithful and obedient to PLAY according to His rules; ultimately you will LAST eternally with Him in heaven.