Free Doesn’t Mean Cheap
Perhaps you have been to a yard sale or a flea market where a vendor was trying to get rid of his wares, and was willing to throw something in for free to “sweeten” a deal. Most of the time that which is thrown in for free is of little value. Consider that the Bible says two sparrows were sold for a farthing (Matt.10:29), and five sparrows were sold for two farthings (Luke 12:6). The sparrow was so insignificant, one was thrown in for nothing. But free doesn’t always mean cheap or unimportant. We live in a land of abundant freedoms and treasured privileges. This nation affords us the freedom to express ourselves in unique ways. We have been granted the freedom to assemble, freedom of speech, freedom to worship as we see fit, freedom to vote for our government officials, and other freedoms and blessings too numerous to mention. I hope that we realize how fortunate we are to live in this great nation, for many do not enjoy the blessings that we do, freedoms that we often take for granted. These freedoms came at a terrible price—many men and women gave their lives so that we might enjoy and maintain these privileges! As the old adage reminds us, freedom isn’t free, nor is the price to obtain and maintain freedom cheap.
The Bible teaches us that salvation is God’s free gift to man. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph.2:8). “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift (many translations include the word “free”, PM) of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom.6:23). Salvation is offered freely to all men: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev.22:17). God graciously offers man pardon and forgiveness, not because man deserves such or because man has somehow put God in his debt, but because God loves us (John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10) and because He desires that none be lost (1 Tim.2:4). Just because salvation is free doesn’t mean that it is cheap. The greatest price that could be paid was paid for our sins. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet.1:18-19). Jesus gave his life on Cal-vary’s cross so that we might be reconciled unto God in one body (Eph.2:16). For that body, his church, Jesus gave his life’s blood (Acts 20:28; Eph.5:25). Salvation is free, but it is not cheap!
Sadly, many treat salvation as though it were insignificant. Some never come to realize their need to be saved from their sins. Some scoff at the idea of one dying in order to wash their sins away. Still others come to know the joy of salvation, only to turn from it and live as though it means nothing to them. Man may count salvation as immaterial, but God has put a great price tag on it. There is a great difference between cheap and priceless, and that difference is the blood Jesus shed so that you might be saved!
–Patrick Morrison
