Eternal Life, The Gift of God
By Russell S. Miller
Suppose I knew of a financial benefactor who was giving away one million dollars to every one that personally contacted him. I told my parents about this, and they collected their million; my sisters collected theirs, after I told them of course; and my brothers-in-law all received their generous portions. Of course I told my wife, and every one in her family, about it. All our relatives, friends, and many, many strangers contacted this gracious benefactor as per instructions, and received their million dollars.
But I never told you!What would you think about my actions in this matter, if I had not told you about this wonderful gift? Would you not have a right to be very angry with me and wonder why you were left out?
Now please do not think that I am angry with any one, for such thinking could not be farther from the truth. No, not at all.
This is an illustration of what God seeks to convey to a lost and dying world. Only it's not a mere million dollars, nor is it billions of dollars that we are discussing here. It is a portrait of the love of Christ:
"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8 ).The Lord does not promise earthly wealth, but He has promised "eternal life" to all who will believe on His Son, worth more than all the money in all the world:
"For the wages of sin is death; but THE GIFT OF GOD is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).Yes, my dear friend, I trust that you also can now see how important, how really important, this gift is that God wants to give you!
The Apostle Peter describes the gift of God as more valuable than the precious metals that men covet after.
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Pet. 1:18,19).The Bible clearly teaches that we are all "sinners" (Rom. 3:23), lost and dying, and in desperate need of the "Savior" (Titus 1:4). Jesus Christ, of course, is our only Savior. There is no other Savior for mankind. If you miss Him, you will have missed everything! This is why the Apostle Paul declared that salvation can only be obtained by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Heb. 9:12).This is also why the Apostle Paul exhorts us to trust Christ as our Savior:
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." (Acts 16:31).
Author