If you receive a gift certificate, you can go to the designated store and receive the monetary value in merchandise-free, with no cost to you. The price has already been paid by someone else. In the same way, we can all receive a gift certificate from God. We are spiritually bankrupt because “all have sinned” and without the ability to purchase forgiveness, cleansing and entrance into heaven. The Bible says, it is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy that He saves us.” And even more bluntly, we are told “all our righteousness are as filthy rags.” But the good news is that Jesus went to the Cross for all of us and paid our sin debt for us. Paul put it simply, that “Christ died for our sins…” Because of that wonderful act of kindness and love, He has a gift certificate ready for anyone who will sincerely ask for it. His gift certificate begins with the words, “God so loved….that He gave His only begotten son…”
Pastor Alex Rockwell
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The story of Cinderella has been told countless times over the years. It is now being brought to life again in a new movie. Columnist Alan Cumming, in the Globe and Mail observes “Some stories keep being told because they need to be. They are about the human condition and therefor have as much to say and are able to challenge us as when they were first written.” What makes some stories great is their ability to be re-told, re- interpreted and remain relevant. No doubt some stories do need to be re-booted, but there is one story that does not need to be reinvented. It has remained relevant for over 2,000 years. I refer to the story of God’s love to mankind as told in the Bible. What could be more relevant to our chaotic world than this? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” No wonder Fulton Oursler and many since have called it “The greatest story ever told.”
Thomas Huxley, famous biologist and self-avowed humanist, recounts an amusing experience. He had finished a lecture series in Dublin Ireland. The following morning, Huxley took a horse drawn taxi and presuming the driver had been given his destination by the hotel doorman, said, “Drive fast, I’m in a hurry.” Before long he realized they were headed in the wrong direction at break-neck speed. Leaning forward, he shouted, “Driver, do you know where you are going?” “No sir,” replied the driver, “but I’m going very fast.” Sounds like our world, where so many are going at a terrific speed, but their destination is unknown. Rollo May, an American psychologist and author once said, “It’s ironic that humans run f aster when they have lost their way.“ We’d Better stop, look and listen! Solomon, writing in the Proverbs said, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” Great advice for then and for all time.
