By Jannie Linney
Each of us, when we hear or see the word “free” we have curiosity rise up in us, wanting to check it out. There is just something in us that would like to get something for nothing, even knowing from the beginning of our thoughts that nothing is really free. We know deep down inside, that somehow, somewhere, someone had to pay the price.
Well, I’m in a position that I always want to see things in the spiritual realm.
I began to think about how the devil knows the fleshly nature of man. So he offers mankind free stuff. He gets our children on drugs by having one who sells drugs to give out a few free samples, just like satan tricked Eve. To one he says, “Surely you will not die if you eat this, just a little won’t hurt and it makes you feel so good!”
To another, “Here have a beer, I promise it won’t hurt you. It’s no worse than drinking a Coke.”
Sooner or later there is a price to be paid for every decision we make. That is why we receive warnings from the word of God, “be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil [Ephesians 6:10-11]. Wiles are methods of how the devil works. He works in many kinds of deception, tricks and temptations.
Satan can only work with our flesh, our five senses because of that, many times he speaks to us in first person, the I, Me and My, making us think we are doing the thinking and that it is actually our desires. He knows a lot about us from watching what we look at on the computer, what we dwell on the most. Then he knows how to tempt us out of the will of God. When satan gets us hooked on anything in the flesh or emotionally, that’s when we start paying the price. In his deception, satan will offer everything free, free, free, causing people to really believe they deserve it. He will freely give you greed, hate, unforgiveness and selfishness. Never will he mention the big price there is at the end of the trail. Someone has to pay the price for everything physical, emotional or spiritual in this life.
Some think that the government owes them, or it’s free if the government passes it out. No, the government has no money of its own. They collect taxes from you and me to give out their free gifts. When they run out of money, they just raise the taxes of those who are willing to work and pay in taxes. The Bible is true and always will be; and it says “if a person is not willing to work, neither should he eat” [2 Tim.3:10b].
There was a price that Jesus paid, an awesome price, being crucified and shedding His blood, dying on the cross, being buried and, yes being resurrected that we can be justified for all our sins, [in repentance], just as though we never did them. “Being justified freely by His grace through the [free] redemption that is in Christ Jesus”[Rom.3:24].
Jesus said, “The thief comes not but for to steal,, and to kill, and to destroy; but I have come that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly”[John 10:10].
Free abundant Life. Jesus paid the price for everything that we would ever need. He is a God of faith, so we receive these free things by faith in what He did. He gave it all to Adam and Eve. They threw it all away for a piece of fruit, in rebellion. Jesus loves us so much, He bought it back for you and me. After over 6,000 years, have we gotten any smarter? Let us thank Him, ask for forgiveness, ask Him to come into our heart and receive what is “Free and Paid For.” Life in Christ Jesus!
