A few days ago I saw an automobile commercial offering us the opportunity to drive a new car for only 69 dollars a month. As we all know (I hope we all know) somewhere along the way, either up front or at the end, we will pay. It is merely a matter of how they package the financing. Car companies are not in business to give us cars. They have just become creative in the way they loan us money. I understand that some car companies make more money loaning us money than they make on the cars.
At first I wanted to say that God is different from car companies. God doesn’t loan us anything. He gives. But that isn’t true. This present life is temporary. We don’t get eternal life until we accept the gift. This life is a loan that comes with the opportunity of exchanging it for eternal life. I then wanted to say that this life is a test run that exhibits how we use life and God will not give us eternal life if we demonstrate horrible behavior that would turn eternal life into eternal misery. However, that smacks of salvation by works, by demonstration, by convincing God we can be trusted with eternity and will not mess up eternity. God is not looking for us to be flawless in our execution of this life as much as He is looking for those with contrite hearts. He is longing for us to recognize our need for mercy and be willing to change.
David in Psalm 51 says it so well. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”
Written by Roger Bothwell on November 27, 2013
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA94574
Rogerbothwell.org