Keith Bowling

Contributing Writer

What day is it: The long ride home seemed so short because of what had happened. I was so excited I could hardly stand it. I wanted everyone to feel like I was. When I went to Church it had been to just visit because a friend had kept inviting me. I said yeah I’ll go just to shut him up for a while. Maybe he’ll quit asking me to go so much.

The people seemed fine and the singing was good as goes. I had heard preaching many times on TV, radio and in services before. But something was different this day. This was something inside me that was hearing different. I was actually listening to what was being preached. Faith was being produced in me. The preaching was about Christ. I was suddenly aware of how bad I was and how good Christ was. Something inside me was changing. I had done so many bad things but knew if I obeyed the Lord that all of the bad stuff would be gone.

Could it be true? Could they all be gone? I thought of how good that would be. All the sins could be washed away by the blood of Christ. I just had to change my mind from how I used to be. I decided in my heart to do something. The preacher had told the story of Pentecost when the Church started and how the people then had heard the same gospel and was in the same place I was. They were pricked in their hearts.

The preacher’s name then was Peter, he was one of the Apostles Jesus had chosen. Peter had been told by Christ before he ascended into heaven (Mark 16:15-16) to go into the entire world and preach the gospel to every creature and those that would believe and be baptized would be saved. So on Pentecost when those people asked Peter what shall we do. Peter told them (Acts 2:38) to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. The people then believed and were baptized just as Christ had said. They were saved. I found myself doing the same thing. I walked down the isle of the church; I confessed Christ and I was baptized. I had heard the gospel Jesus wanted preached, I believed and I was baptized, I was saved.

For me it was the day of salvation. This could be talking about anyone. It could be talking about you. What day is it for you? Hey we’ll be open this Sunday. You coming?

Everything has a cost:

Even if you get something for free it will cost you something. If you steal something it will cost you at some time. The scriptures declare that we will reap what we sow and it’s so true. They also say be sure your sin will find you out. Even if people don’t see you God does.

People say salvation is free but it cost something, it cost Jesus his life and his blood. Many want salvation to be free so they won’t have to do anything. In a bizarre kind of way they want a generic religion. An imitation. People will say, I want to be saved but I don’t want to have to go to Church, don’t want to be baptized, don’t want to do any religious stuff. Neighbor you’ll get what you pay for and that’s a cheap religion. It’s not worth much to you or anybody else. Everyone will know your religion didn’t cost much and is not worth much. Are you proud of your bargain religion. Are you glad it’s not costing you anything. You get what you pay for. When you die that cheap religion won’t take you to heaven.

There’s an old saying, if it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably not. Are you running your soul like the lottery thinking you’ll hit some kind of spiritual jackpot. The Lord said you’ll reap what you sow. What is your religion costing you? Do you spend any time on it? Jesus paid the supreme price for salvation. The price for sin was his life and his blood. Real religion will cost you time. What are you giving to the Lord? Is your religion costing you anything? Salvation is worth everything to your neighbor. Peace of mind is priceless. Joy is very valuable.

Preachers may say that there’s nothing you can do to save yourself. Nothing means nothing. If this was true then you wouldn’t have to believe in Christ, repent of sins, confess the Lord, be baptized, go to Church or even live faithful. But you must do something, you must believe, repent, confess, be baptized and live faithful. It’s a small price to pay for what the Lord offers. Salvation is worth everything in this world. Do what you have to do, give what you have to give, be what you have to be to serve the Lord. Get out of bed Sunday morning and come to Church. Yes it may cost you some sleep time but eternity is so close. Come to Church. We’ll leave the light on for you.