It can be fun watching the price go up at an auction. It starts with many bidders, then people begin to drop out as the price goes higher. But this is staggering! Selling is usually about the trader arguing the customer up to his price, but here we have Christ arguing the price down!
Come with me in your imagination to the auction. Christ is calling out, “I offer eternal life and forgiveness of sins, entrance into the family of God and water to the thirsty—to the lowest bidder. What will you offer?”
A man in a suit steps forward, “I’ve run an honest business. I’ve been faithful to my wife, and I’ve been a good father. I also served on the boards of three charitable organizations.” A buzz goes round the crowd—pretty impressive! “It’s with the man in the pinstripe suit!”
A lady in a coat comes forward, “I haven’t done all he has, but I’ve attended church faithfully and I’ve become a spiritual person.” Then she sits down. “That’s not much, but it’s with the lady in the blue coat!”
A girl in jeans gets up, “I haven’t attended church like she has, but I’ve done my best. I’m sincere.” A man in a sweater chimes in, “I’ve let a lot of people down, but at least I’m sorry.” Christ says, “It’s with the man in the sweater. Will anyone offer me less to obtain this blessing?”
This isn’t a battle of pride. It’s a battle of blushes. Many have opted out of the bidding, not because the cost is too high, but because the offers are far too low. Finally someone steps forward, “My repentance isn’t what it should be, and neither is my faith or my works. I have nothing to offer.” Christ says, “It’s yours!”
Some will be saying, “Don’t we have to be sorry? Don’t we have to believe?” Yes, but you do not offer these things to God in exchange for salvation. Some think Christ offers a trade in which He brings forgiveness and life, and we bring repentance and faith. But that’s not the Gospel.
Why come to Christ?
“Jesus stopped and called them, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he asked. ‘Lord,’ they answered, “we want our sight.’” Matthew 20:32
The blind men did not come to Christ because they had sight, they came to Him to get sight. You don’t come to Christ because you have faith, you come to Him to get faith. It is the gift of God. You do not come to Christ with a changed life, you come to Him for a changed life.
Don’t offer Christ your works, your repentance or even your faith. The only price for which Christ will release salvation is zero. God has made it so that every one of us can make the lowest offer. The man in the suit and the lady in the coat may have this blessing too, but they must stop trying to buy it. They must humble themselves and come to Christ empty-handed.
Some have not come to Christ because they don’t think that they have enough to offer Him. They’re desperately trying to please God, trying to love God, trying to believe God and they’re failing.
If this is you, what you need to do today is come to Christ and ask Him to do for you what you cannot do for yourself. If you’ve never received anything from God, all you’ve ever done is try to follow a moral code, don’t let your pride keep you from coming down to God’s price today!
This week's Scripture: “Come, buy... without money and without cost.” Isaiah 55:1
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This LifeKey based on the message “Calling,” by Pastor Colin S. Smith, delivered October 1, 2000, from the series “Unlocking the Bible.” Colin currently serves as Senior Pastor of the The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He is committed to preaching the Bible in a way that nourishes the soul by directing attention to Jesus Christ.
