Name a gift you received in your youth that’s still working, and getting better. Moreover, name a gift from long ago that still functions better than anything that’s ever come down the pike. Everything I can think of is in a landfill somewhere.

The gift Paul mentions five times in this passage will be the best you’ve ever received. It’ll get better every day, every hour, every minute, you’ll think, but it was already as good as it would get right out of the box. It’s both sufficient for your needs and more than you need. What’s more it will save your life! That’s right, save your life. I’m talking about the free gift of God’s grace.

The first man Adam sinned and triggered death for all with one bite of the forbidden fruit.  From that time on there was “none righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10) and one tragic end for all humankind–death. But because he loved his creation, God sent one man–his son Jesus–to give his life for all. And he made this life available as a gracious gift, not something you’d need to beg, borrow or steal to get.

But here’s the catch. There’s always a catch! You need to receive it. The strings? There are none. Stick out your hand and take it by faith alone! (James 2:24) It’s just that simple.

Since you know now how much this gift keeps on giving, and in fact will save your life, and how easy it is acquire, why would you refuse it? It’s free for heaven’s sake!

As the saying goes, there’s no certainty in life except death and taxes. We’ll do everything we can to avoid paying taxes, but what about the bill you’ll never be able to pay? The hardest thing that you’ll ever have to face, and for all eternity the Bible says, I might add—death—can be avoided by accepting this free gift.

So ironic how so many refuse it! When given the simple choice, many allow death to continue to reign in their lives, when they could be lavished with abounding grace.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. Ephesians 1:7-8