Joshua 24:13 And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.
I don't know of anyone who doesn't like a bargain. People hit all the shops when sales are on and scan all the sales papers for the "hottest" sale items hoping to save on goods that are either needed or just wanted.
The Bible tells us of the ultimate bargain. What if I told you that you could have the best clothes (Rev. 19:8) and the best food (Rev. 19:9) imaginable and all for free? How about your own home (John 14:2) for free sitting on unlimited acreage (Rev. 21:16) with gardens, vineyards and orchards galore (Rev. 22:2); all situated next to a crystal clear stream (Rev. 22:1) coming out from under a city of gold.
Sound too good to be true. It is not fantasy. It is all true. Not only is this true but you can have all this in this most fabulous city with unlimited time to enjoy it all. You say there has to be a catch. Well no, there is no catch to it. It is the ultimate "free lunch" which is so illusive and usually found only in dreams.
The old adage states "there is no such thing as a free lunch". You may think it is free but it will actually cost you something if you read the fine print. Here again there is no fine print. Everything mentioned is free for the asking.
Actually there is much more I have not covered that is free for the asking. Many who love beautiful music would love to listen to the Philharmonic Orchestra or get the opportunity to listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at a live event. Even if you had the opportunity and had free tickets it most likely would not be free to you. The cost of travel would put a dent in your pocket book. The "free lunch" I am talking about includes music and singing (Psalm 100, 150, Rev. 5:9, 14:3, 15:3) that would put both of the aforementioned groups to shame and even your transportation is taken care of (1 Thess. 4:17).
The verse in Joshua above is what God told Israel as they entered the promised land. God gave them that land and it did not cost them anything. They ate of others labor and they were housed in houses they did not build. It was a picture of a coming time when God would go far beyond this gift for His children.
You know how nothing is too good for your children and you desire to give them the best? Well God feels the same way about His children but He has the means to give the best and not just desire the best for His Children.
Just as your earthly parents gave you things that cost you nothing our Heavenly Father will do the same. Just as it cost your earthly parents dearly so that you could have these free to you things, it cost God dearly that we might have the things He desires to give us.
He loved us (John 3:16) so much that He desired that we be with Him where He is (John 14:3). The trouble was that sin had separated us (Isaiah 59:2) from His love and this prevented Him from freely giving us all things.(Rom. 8:32). By coming and paying our sin debt Jesus paid for it all. It is now ours for the asking (Matt. 7:7). All we have to do is from the heart (1 John 1;9) ask for forgiveness and receive Jesus into our heart (John 1:12, Col. 2:6).
A "free lunch"? Oh yes my friend and so much more. As great as all these things I have mentioned are I have saved the very best "freebie" for last. The greatest gift imaginable is to be allowed in the presence of our Saviour, Lord, God and King for all eternity. To bask in His glory and be allowed to worship and praise Him for "His unspeakable gift"(2 Cor. 5:19). That is His greatest gift to us. It is being in the presence of His great love for us and our ability to finally once and for all time return pure love back to Him that we cannot at present fully do. As long as we are in this natural body we are hindered and prevented from attaining to pure love. When we are freed from these constraints and are clothed on by immortality (1 Cor. 15:53-54) then we can attain to the pure joy of pure love.
Now don't you agree that is truly a "free lunch"?
Written by Dwight Rhodes
Poetry Corner
His Gift To Me
A window in the sky
Where souls ascend on high
My sins had brought me low
God cleansed them white as snow
How can it be?
Great miracle
God's salvation…
His gift to me.
There is a holy gate
Right now, it's not too late
To start an upward climb
So humbling and sublime
How can it be?
Tender mercies
Measure of faith …
His gift to me.
Realms of glorious light
Magnificent, the sight
Where angels smile and sing
Around our blessed King
How can it be?
Oh, Lamb of God…
Promise fulfilled,
His gift to me.
Teardrops will stop falling
When you hear His calling
Blanketed by His grace
Love's precious embrace
How can it be?
Eternal rest
Under His wing
His gift to me.
Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together,
saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson,
they shall be as wool.
Written by Julie Pisacane
Presented By Pages of My Heart Ministry
