Gift and Request
Suppose someone was given a huge gift, say a million dollars, with a request attached to give a hundred each to a few very needy people. What would we think of him if he took the gift and ignored the request? Surely, we would consider him to be most ungrateful and also unprincipled.
Such a Gift/Request has been granted to all God’s people. They have been given the greatest gift possible, one the wealthiest billionaire could not give, the gift of eternal life, life without end! This tremendous gift was accompanied by a request, the dedication of the remainder of this short life to the service of the Giver. It wasn’t really hard work, nor did it consume one’s entire life. It was, though, to be the most important and receive the highest priority over all other activity.
The individuals granted this gift were asked to dedicate their lives to obeying Jesus’ Great Commission:
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen even unto the end of the world. Amen (Matt. 28:19, 20)
There are three things here Jesus asked of His disciples and asks of all His followers, all that look forward to spending eternity with Him:
- Teach all nations the Good News of salvation
- Baptize those that believe
- Teach all nations to obey all His commandments
This third request from Jesus has been sorely neglected by God’s people. His workers in this world, have accepted the gift but neglected the request. True, the gift was unconditional, but still, how can ignoring the request be justified?
- It is individual’s whole purpose in life that Jesus asks be dedicated to His service.
- It redirects or replaces everything else in life.
- Is this too much to ask for eternal life, the greatest gift one could ever receive?
- Only the insane or those that do not really have the gift would say so.
Have you accepted the gift but not answered the request? If you are of sane mind, your only excuse is a lack of correct understanding of the request. Please re-read the above and realize that you may not be standing on firm ground. But don’t lose heart; ask God in true sincerity, with all your heart, and He will cladly give the gift. When He does so, you will know, without a shadow of doubt, that He has heard you and responded with the gift, the gift of life, eternal life.
Have you tested yourself and found you already have the gift? If so, I’ll see you later, perhaps only in heaven and we can discuss it there!