Passed Up Bargain
John 5:24 KJV
(24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 5:43 KJV
(43) I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
I saw an episode of Andy Griffith last night, one of those later ones after they went to color and a rare one that I hadn’t yet seen. I actually didn’t get to see the whole thing, but came in on a scene where Aunt Bee and two of her friends were in the middle of a quarrel at a purse stand in Mexico. They were apparently on a trip there together and though lifetime friends, they were discovering how difficult traveling together can be. What made this particular quarrel interesting, though, was the price of this purse they all wanted. While they were bickering about who saw it first, who really wanted it first, and finally who wouldn’t even consider taking it after all this, the price of the purse was going from 70 pesos to 20 pesos. The desperate Mexican vendor was doing his best to make the purse a great deal for whichever lady would disengage from the quarrel and their pride long enough to believe in the bargain of the purse itself. Though they would reconcile their friendships sometime after returning home, the very thing that could have been a great deal for one or all of them turned into a stumbling block in their relationship. The scene ended with the vendor starting up again with another potential buyer and me wondering how anyone could be walking away from such a great deal. If only they could have heard the voice of the purse salesman long enough to believe in the purse value over the intensity of their own conflict.
Trading death for life really doesn’t have any comparable on the bargain table of life. To miss out on condemnation and get in on everlasting life is really the opportunity of a million lifetimes. How could anyone get caught up in disputing over the very bargain itself then and, out of pride and self-centeredness walk away from receiving and living in the fullness of its blessing? If only focus on conflicting circumstances could be averted long enough to hear the Master’s voice and believe in the goodness of His Father, the incredible value offered could be possessed, with price already paid, and direct delivery as part of the deal. Jesus is calling out today with a message of goodness and favor. For all of us, even those who’ve had a lifetime relationship with Him, there will be a choice today to turn away from the distractions of life that would awaken pride and self seeking, and listen intently to the voice of the One proclaiming the value of an eternity. How could anyone pass up a deal like this for the trivial and temporary? Why not believe in Him over any other voice, no matter how persuasive or demanding?
