A family member,
a good friend,
a love interest,
a life partner,
you know; someone you love—you hold
dear.
For that person: money is no
object. (we’re pretending here)
You find them something that is
perfect.
It’s gonna bless their socks off.
You take it to the counter. Pay
for it. Have it gift wrapped. You’re excited. You can’t wait to give it to
them. You know they will love it.
The moment arrives. You present
the gift to them.
“Oh, you shouldn’t have,” they gush.
You smile and say, “Go ahead, open
it.”
They are shocked, amazed, ecstatic;
it’s perfect. They stare at the gift in wonder. Huge smile. Then they look you
in the eye and say,
“How much do I owe you?”
(Huh!? Insert sound of a needle
scratching over the surface of a record on a turntable)
New scenario:
Same thing as above; only this
time they look you in the eye and say, “Wow, this is so wonderful. I can’t
believe you got this for me. Thank you!”
As they give you a hug you say, “You’re
welcome. Now you owe me. From now on I want you to…”
(Huh!? again: same needle scratch
sound)
We all know the idea of a gift is
that it’s something you give away without expecting anything back, except
perhaps a thank you.
It’s a great feeling to bless
someone with a perfect gift.
It’s a great feeling to be blessed
when you are the receiver of a perfect gift.
The first reply above is as good
as an insult to the giver.
It robs the great feeling and negates
the blessing.
The second reply above is as good
as an insult to the receiver.
It also robs the great feeling and
negates the blessing.
Both put a price on a gift completely
removing the entire concept of the item being a gift.
The first needs to learn how to
receive a gift.
The second needs to learn how to give a gift.
Both
need to learn what a gift really is.
Even the words “free gift” put
together like this seems odd.
A gift is a gift.
Add anything to it like a cost or
a stipulation and it’s no longer free or
a gift.
It’s something else entirely.
It’s a debt,
an obligation.
Hardly a “blessing,” that’s for
sure.
Not even close.
So much for free.
Who would want a gift like that?
Who would give a gift like that?
Who would want to accept a gift like that?
The following is a short synopsis of
how a lot of believers see the Bible.
It is very brief and rough.
God created man in His image
including being an eternal creation.
Man messed it up by disobeying
God.
Death was the punishment: the end
of living eternally on earth.
God provided a way for man to
regain his eternal life: keep His commands.
God instructed man to sacrifice an
animal on an altar, shedding its blood whenever we mess up; whenever we sin.
This keeps us in good stead with
God.
Everyone sinned. Everyone
sacrificed.
God told man that He didn’t like
the sacrifice of animals and told man that He would provide a perfect sacrifice
that would remove all Sin once for all.
Jesus, the Savior, was born.
He lived a perfect life keeping
all of God’s commands.
God allowed Jesus to be put to
death and as He died, God put all the sins of mankind on Him.
Jesus took all the sins of mankind
upon Himself and suffered the full punishment in our place and died.
Jesus was then raised from the dead.
We now have a living Savior who
reigns in Heaven and intercedes for us with the Father.
If we believe in Jesus, we have eternal life.
We are good with God once more.
Eternal life is God’s gift to
mankind.
We deserved death; for all have
sinned.
Jesus shed His blood and died in
our place: the Lamb of God on the altar of the cross.
We believe in Jesus: we get the
gift of God.
Simple.
Simple enough to confound the
wise.
But…
(uh, oh… the ‘but’)
Many teach (and believe) we are
now obligated to do something to get
the gift.
(huh!?)
Many teach (and believe) God requires something back when we receive
the gift.
(huh!?)
The now you musts.
The now you need tos.
The now you’re supposed tos.
But isn’t a gift free?
Are you saying even with God, there’s
no such thing as a free lunch?
How can you trust a god who’s like
that?
How can anyone trust a god who’s like that?
The gift is either free, or it isn’t.
Which one?
It isn’t possible to be both.
It’s no wonder Unbelievers have
such a hard time believing. A lot of things Believers say and teach and believe
sound—and frankly are—contradictory and confusing.
Most Believers have a hard time
sharing the Good News not because they are timid, or don’t know how, or haven’t completed a course, or say they are not ‘called’ to ‘that’
ministry.
Lots of Believers see these same contradictions and are just as confused.
They don’t feel equipped to deal
with these things when they come up:
and they will come up.
and they will come up.
They themselves chalk these things
up to ‘faith’ issues
and hope they hear a sermon or teaching someday
that will clear things up.
and hope they hear a sermon or teaching someday
that will clear things up.
In the meantime
they stay
silent.
silent.
Sad,
because so many need to hear the
message.
The message of the Gift.
The free Gift
of God’s grace.
No comments:
Post a Comment