A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers  

Romans 6:23, “. . . but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Max Lucado, in his book, In the Grip of Grace (Word Publishing, 1996), says that sometimes, at the conclusion of a sermon, he offers money to anyone in the congregation who will come forward and accept it. He isn’t paying the congregation for coming to church, but making a poignant illustration. He says he will hold up a dollar bill and invite anyone in the church to simply come forward and take it. After a number of reluctant looks from the audience, as well as several skeptical gestures of refusal of the gift, invariably some brave soul will walk up the aisle and take the money from the preacher’s hand. Then, Lucado asks the rest of the congregation who did not respond to his offer, “Why didn’t you take my offer?” The responses are varied. Some think it is a trick. Some are embarrassed. Others don’t think a dollar bill is much in comparison to their financial resources, so they don’t believe they need it. Then Lucado asks another follow up question: “Why don’t people accept Christ’s free gift?” Is it a trick? Are they too embarrassed? Do they think, in comparison to their resources they don’t need it? Lucado concludes by saying, “The point makes itself. Though grace is available to all, it’s accepted by few. Many choose to sit and wait while only a few choose to stand and trust.” In our Scripture lesson today, Paul the apostle reminds us that “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Redemption is a gift. A gift is something that is freely offered by the benefactor, contingent upon the beneficiary receiving it. There is nothing that you must or can do to earn or deserve the gift of eternal life. It is His to give and yours to receive. No catches. No tricks. No need to be embarrassed. Just courageously get up from where you are in life, move to the cross, and by faith accept His gift of eternal life. And from this point forward, you can live each day with the freedom salvation brings, and enjoy God’s gift of grace with each new day.