It is Settled!

A series of lessons from the Bible

by Howell Lasseter

The Most Precious Gift

It is man's desire to have something of great value. Possibly, some desire that everything they own be of great value. Both men and women share this interest in possessing valuable items. To have such items is not wrong, but to neglect to care for the things God has given us is wrong.

Man has been given something that is priceless; it is of great value. Yet, it costs us nothing. Man has been given a gift that can keep us from ever dying. Most of us have a physician that we trust to help our life be better and extended on this earth. We are thankful to our doctors for being able to make us feel better when we hurt. But, even though we place our physical life in their hands, the time will come when they cannot keep us from dying physically. One of the hymns says, "To Canaan's land I'm on my way, where the soul never dies." Yet, to be able to truthfully sing that song, we must have received that most precious gift.

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver or 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 Peter 1:18,19). Yes, the most precious gift is that of the cleansing blood of the only Son of God, which He shed for us. We can accept this gift, and immediately be rich, or we can reject it and be, at death, the poorest that man can possibly be. Why? Because our soul is lost; it will be cast into eternal hell. We will not be able to stop the pain, or the loneliness, although we will not be alone.

There is something most of us have in our possession that is precious. The Bible - God's Word - is the most important book one can possibly possess, for therein is God's Will revealed; therein we learn of the gospel of Christ. The Will of God tells us how we may receive this most valuable gift. Romans 1:16,17: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: For it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: As it is written, The just shall live by faith;" Do you have a Bible? If not, write to the address below and a Bible will be sent to you. And, yes, the Bible is free. The gospel of Christ is free and available to all mankind. The churches of Christ do not charge for any literature we offer. Radio and TV preachers always beg you to buy a book, a tape, or some other offer. The Lord's church does not make merchandise of God's Word.