A Fair Trade

A Fair Trade

You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

My friend Rick Atchley, the preaching minister in Texas of a large congregation of four thousand members, once remarked, “We spend more time praying to keep saints out of heaven than we do to keep sinners out of hell.” And for the most part, he’s right.

For instance, when great old saints become ill, we call in all the prayer warriors to plead with God not to take them home. Meanwhile, how many times have we called in the prayer warriors to pray for people who are spiritually ill in order to keep them out of hell? (Ouch! I just stomped on my own toes.)

One time a new minister in town sought the medical services of the reputed best local physician, a man who was sadly irregular in his church attendance. The medical treatment became prolonged, and the young minister, worried over the accumulating medical expenses, asked the doctor about his bill.

“I’ll tell you what I’ll do,” said the doctor. “I hear you’re a pretty good preacher, and you seem to think I’m a fair doctor. So let’s make a bargain. I’ll do all I can to keep you out of heaven, and you do all you can to keep me out of hell, and it won’t cost either one of us a red cent.”

I’m not sure that is a trade the Lord would particularly like. The truth is, no one else can do anything to keep us out of hell. That’s up to each of us individually through our faith in the grace of our loving God that saves us. Without that faith, without that grace, there would be no salvation for any of us.

And by the way, just in case you’re wondering, God does not do horse trading.

Dear God, thank you for providing the way for us to be saved. We are, indeed, eternally indebted to you. Amen.