Some people seem to have the knack for squeezing two cents out of every penny, but somehow the hassle is never worth the payoff for me. I love a good deal, but I’m not the kind of person who’s consistent about using coupons or going to 3 different stores to get the best prices or even buying in bulk.
Generally, trying to get things for free means a lot more hard work and a lot less certainty. Scoring reduced tickets to a Broadway show might mean waiting in a long line on the day of the performance hoping there are some unsold seats. Flying standby means waiting at the airport until the last moment to find out if you’re going to be able to board the plane. Most of the time, booking your ticket in advance gives you more confidence that there will be a space for you.
Not so with God. He does things so differently from how we would expect! The only certainty we can have of salvation comes from the fact that we receive it for free. No advance preparation or payment plan could guarantee that we would have sufficient funds to our credit on the day of accounting. We would go through life always wondering if the good we had done was quite good enough, or if our shortcomings weren’t so terribly bad, so that we would have enough to cover our debts.
Instead God invites us to liberally partake of His salvation – “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink – even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk – it’s all free!” (Isaiah 55:1) This isn’t part of an elaborate bait-and-switch plan and God is under no obligation to choose us or to love us. But He does it all the same. God lavishes His love on us because He wants to.
This is the gift of grace.
What is free to us has been dearly bought by Christ. He willingly gave His very life so that we would know for sure that God is actively and passionately committed to our well-being. We don’t have to wonder how God feels about us, or if we will have an offering that He’ll accept when we approach Him. “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). “By that one offering he perfected forever all those whom is he making holy” (Hebrews 10:14). Things may still be in process, but the deal is already done.
“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, ‘Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!’” (John 7:37 ESV). The offer is for anyone, at any time. Just come.