Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Salvation is a "Get To" Thing
It was a
Cinderella-type romance. The 19-year-old girl had come from a dysfunctional
home where she was mistreated and unappreciated. Because of poverty and limited
educational and work experience her hope of ever bettering her life was
non-existent. Then “he” came along. He was polite, well-off, gainfully employed
and very interested in the beautiful young lady who now sat opposite him at the
candle-lit table in the high-end restaurant.
Their
relationship had progressed. They felt comfortable with each other, they had
common interests, they had survived lovers’ quarrels and they were both ready
for something more substantial. Knowing this, the young man had gone to a great
deal of trouble to reserve the table and prepare the perfect proposal.
After sharing
a perfect, not-too-sweet, chocolate dessert, he reached for her hand, dropped
to one knee and slipped a gorgeous ring out of his pocket and placed it in her
lap. He then looked lovingly into her eyes he said, “You mean everything to me.
I love you dearly and I want to commit my life to making you happy. Will you
marry me?”
Her answer
took his wind away. It seemed so cold, calculating and self-serving when she
bluntly queried, “If we marry, do I have to kiss you and go places with you in
public? Will you expect me to remain faithful to you alone? Will I have to be
intimate with you and publicly refer to you as my husband? Do I have to give
you a long-term commitment?”
You can
imagine the shock and dismay. In his mind, the invitation to marry was not a
“got to” proposition, it was a “get to” proposition. Marriage means two people
get to be intimate, committed and exclusive with one another. You have probably guessed that the evening
did not end well, and that the relationship died a terrible death.
Salvation is a very similar
situation. God offers forgiveness, washing and empowerment. He promises to be faithful and graceful
toward us both now and forever. He invites us to be a part His incredible
kingdom. Yet many people respond like the girl in the story; they ask questions
like, “Do I have to be baptized to be saved? Or, do I have to speak in tongues
and live a holy life?” Such questions are preposterous in light of the amazing
offer God is making. How sad when people discuss salvation in terms of what we
have to do, because salvation is not a “got to” thing, it is a “get to” thing. 
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