YOUR CHOICE—TEN DOLLARS OR HEAVEN

Class hadn’t even started and Daniel was already asking a question. “If I know how to get “saved” will you give me ten dollars?”

That was the subject of our last class. I include a dose of it often while teaching. And as I teach about salvation, my ultimate objective is for the students to understand salvation and to desire their own experience of committing their lives to following Jesus.

On a white board I had written keywords, explaining the getting-saved process. Listed where: (1) Faith—believing the unseen. (2) Recognize—your sin/separation from God. (3) Repent-with remorse, turning away from your sins. (4) Receive—Jesus’ gift to pay for your sins; His death on the cross. (5) Confess—speak from your mouth what is happening through faith. (6) Lord—make Jesus lord, master, boss of your life.

Now Daniel had made the self-initiated effort to learn each of these keywords. So he figured the effort should be worth ten dollars.

Daniel is not saved. He knows it. He’s told me. As well, his behavior reflects a disinterest in making the commitment. I keep praying for him and thank God he attends church.

To him, getting ten dollars was more valuable. Daniel likes money a lot. Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who trust riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.”

What’s your price? Ten dollars? Ten million dollars? How much will you sell your soul for and miss Heaven. Having money is not evil. Having a love for money is. This is a subtle, alluring, destructive force. And it’s never fully satisfied!

Jesus paid a price. He died on the cross. The cost to you? Free--it’s a gift waiting for you to accept.