In New England there is a furniture store that must spend kazillions of dollars a year on advertising because they are ever present. Surely there is not a living soul over twelve months of age in Massachusetts and surrounding states that doesn’t know these people’s advertising song. Their latest promotion is offering “free” HD televisions if you make a purchase valued over a certain stated amount. First of all it isn’t “free” if you have to do something to get it. Yesterday I heard them say, “The more you spend the bigger your gift.” Isn’t that an oxymoron? It totally devastates the word “gift.”
One of the greatest verses in Scripture is Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It is also one of the most difficult verses for us really believe. We have no trouble with the first part. It is the second part. Eternal life is so amazing and so incredible we just cannot bring ourselves to believe there isn’t a catch. There ISN’T! It is true. God means what He says. But we want to add “but.” We want to add all manner of stipulations.
I have come to believe we do this because we are so afraid someone is going to be saved while doing something we want to do but have given up doing so we live forever. The stupid part of this is God only asks us to stop doing things that are harmful to us or another. If they keep doing something harmful then they are being harmed so why should we want to do that? Finally, once we understand what God has given us we will be so grateful we will do anything we can to please Him. Our hearts will spill over with love and obedience. Obedience, which seems to be the issue with us, will be a fruit of our love.
Written by Roger Bothwell on August 10, 2009
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
rogerbothwell.org