While slowing inching along in a line of cars up to the drive thru window of a fast food restaurant, I amused myself by watching a seagull walking about with a florescent orange sticker adhering to his right wing. In big black letters it read, “2 for $5.” He was the avian equivalent to people walking about wearing a sandwich board. I kept wondering just what two things I would get for my five dollars. His sticker didn’t say. Maybe for five dollars I would get two seagulls.
Truth in advertising has been a contentious issue ever since tobacco companies used to put actors on television pretending to be doctors and telling us cigarettes were good for us. It reminds me of preachers on television telling us God will make us rich if we will send them one hundred dollars of “seed money.” Since the beginning of history people have been swindling each other with deceptive offers. The world has been, is and will be, filled with conmen. I think my seagull was a “congull.” He wanted the five dollars for two of nothing.
Remember stories of people selling their soul to the devil in return for a short period of prosperity? Eventually Satan arrives to collect and always the duped realize they have been had. It wasn’t worth it. Often we talk about salvation being the free gift of God’s grace. While that is true it really doesn’t tell the entire story. Jesus does desire something in return. He wants us to understand if we obey His commands we will embark upon an eternal journey into fantastic undreamed of personal development. What He offers really, really, really, really is worth it.
Written by Roger Bothwell on November 14, 2009
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
rogerbothwell.org