FREE!

"FREE!" What does that mean? Some people apparently don't know. A number of years ago my wife and I "won" a Caribbean cruise. The only catch was we had to book arrangements to get from the West Coast to Florida in order to take it. Some have been told they "won" a prize (i.e. a boat and motor) and all they had to do was send $97 for shipping and handling. (It turns out what they got was a rubber raft and small electric motor they could have bought locally for that amount or less.) Then there are things that are "FREE!" . . . with a "minimum purchase." Again I ask: What does "FREE" mean?

A couple days ago I tried to check out a phone number that showed up on our telephone caller ID. I knew by the prefix it was a local number, but it appeared to be from a business of which I was not familiar. I went online to use a "reverse telephone directory" in which to search for who it was. I must have clicked on ten different links -- all marked "FREE" -- only to find out it was a Port Townsend number (which I already knew), but I would have to pay to find out the name and address. I even found an article that discussed how to find out the information "FREE", but the link in the article took me right back to one of the websites I had already checked.

"FREE!" How often true it is that if it's too good to be true, it probably is. Also, even when we see the large print "FREE!" it is wise to read the small print to find out what we might end up paying for that we don't want. Society has trained us to suspect there is a catch somewhere and that "FREE!" does not necessarily mean it is so!

However, there is One Whose word we can trust completely. What He has warned, we'd better believe. But what He has promised, we can fully believe as well. (note 2 Corinthians 1:20)

From our Lord's own lips come the offers. . .

"(31) So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, (32) and you will know the truth, and THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE! . . . (36) SO IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED.'" ( John 8:31-32 & 36) ESV)

And. . .

"(6) And he said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. TO THE THIRSTY I WILL GIVE FROM THE SPRING OF THE WATER OF LIFE WITHOUT PAYMENT." ( Revelation 21:6 ESV)

"FREE!" is good! Our Lord's promises are good! No small print to worry about! No tricks to get us to buy something else.

Paul also encouraged. . .
"(23) For the wages of sin is death, but THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD." ( Romans 6:23 ESV)

"IN CHRIST" (i.e. Galatians 3:27) we have what He has offered us. What is "FREE!" cannot be bought! What is "FREE!" cannot be earned. What is "FREE!" is so, because our Lord already paid for it so He can offer it to us free and clear! May we abide in our relationship with Him knowing we will receive what He has promised!

Have a great day KNOWING THE GOOD AND THE TRUE HE OFFERS!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Expectations