Honey, do you know where the Proof of Purchase tab is?”

   “For what?”

   “This movie.”

   “I think it’s on the outer wrapping. Why do you need it?”

   “(Sigh) So I can claim this $5 rebate. You need the original sales receipt, this form, and the Proof of Purchase tab. I threw the wrapper in the trash last night, and I already took the garbage to the street.” Oh, well. Another opportunity missed. A lot of times I don’t even think to bother. But I sure don’t hold that against the company.

    We encounter this kind of deal all the time, don’t we? Just follow these simple steps to claim your Free Gift—clip the coupon, fill out the form, e-mail to this or that address. It’s yours to take or lose. Do we ever feel that we are being treated unfairly by these opportunities? Does it trouble us that we don’t understand exactly why they’re asking us to do one thing or the other? Or have we ever read the label--$5 Rebate!—then happily wait for our check in the mail without even checking the details inside?

    This seems to be the way many people respond to the Free Gift of God’s grace. They read, “…The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23); “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Reading these truths, they reach the conclusion that if any responsive action whatsoever is required for men to claim this gift, it’s no longer free! This is a difficult conclusion to reconcile when you see the details. The jailer in Philippi asked Paul and Silas, “ ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household’” (Acts 16:30-31). Okay, so many concede that belief/faith is a condition—but that’s it! Faith only!

    By this way of thinking, faith is still not doing anything. But that simply doesn’t match up with the picture of faith presented in the Bible. Faith is a working response. Hebrews chapter 11 provides the most condensed illustration of this fact. James writes, “You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone … For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (2:24, 26). Faith is trusting God enough to do what He asks in order to claim His Free Gift!

    Consider this amazing offer to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: “…All the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever” (Genesis 13:15; cf. 26:3, 28:13). True to His word, God miraculously led their descendants to the doorstep of their new home with the same assurance: “…Spy out the land of Canaan, which I am going to give to the sons of Israel” (Numbers 13:2). Moses followed God’s instructions, only to find the land swarming with big, armored thugs (13:28)! There was going to be some kind of labor on their part in claiming God’s gift. This generation had no confidence in God and declined to go forward, so God denied them their gift because “they did not follow me fully” (32:11). The next generation learned the lesson well. They went in to claim God’s gift, and when they came to find the walled city of Jericho locked down tight and God said, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand,” (Joshua 6:2), they did not scoff when He followed that offer with a list of detailed directions! And so, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days” (Hebrews 11:30).

    In this age, to all men, God is offering the undeserved gift of eternal salvation. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age…” (Titus 2:11-12). Let’s read and follow the details. “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved” (Romans 10:9). “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10; cf. Colossians 1:21-23). The Free Gift of God expires for you when your life or the world ends—whichever comes first. Don’t delay! Act now! - MDS