On television or radio, it is not uncommon to hear a pitchman tell you that the particular opportunity to purchase whatever product he is promoting is “the greatest opportunity ever offered!” You know that isn’t the case, however, because you know that next week you will see the same product offered with new packaging and at a new price, but still with the promise, “This is the greatest opportunity ever offered!” As the old saying goes, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!”
But such is not the case with God’s offer of eternal life through faith in Christ. God’s offer is as good as it seems.
Eternal life as a free gift, through faith in Christ. His offer has never changed, and His price is still the same.
Indeed, God’s offer of eternal life through Christ is the greatest opportunity ever offered!
This opportunity is . . .
1. For all who lose - “whoever”
In other words, it is an opportunity for all of us! For all of us, apart from Christ, are losers.
“For apart from me you can do nothing.” - John 15:5b (NLT)
Apart from Christ, we experience loss with respect to:
A. Knowing Freedom.
1) From the burden of sin.
The Bible tells us that each of us is guilty of sin.
“There is no one righteous, not even one.” - Romans 2:10 (NIV)
It is said that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the writer of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, was a well known practical joker. One practical joke that he was said to have played on 12 of his friends in high society was that he sent them all a telegram with the message, “Flee at once, all has been discovered.” And within twenty-four hours, every one of his friends had fled the country.
The fact is that though some may try to deny it, what the Bible says is true. When people are honest about it, they have to admit to the fact that sin has left them with a burden of guilt. And their guilt is something which they cannot run away from!
Apart from Christ, you will never know freedom from the burden of your sin, and, as a result, you will never know freedom from . . .
2) From the bondage of Satan.
A) Satan is out to deceive all who do not know Jesus.
In Ephesians 2:2, Paul describes the bondage under which a person lives apart from Christ, when tells us that without Christ in one’s life, he follows “the ways of this world [influenced by this present age], in accordance with the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit who is now at work in the disobedient [the unbelieving, who fight against the purposes of God].” (Amplified)
A group of teenage boys once carried out a prank where they broke in to a local department store. They didn’t steal anything, but instead, they switched the price tags on items within the store. So the tag on a $395 camera was removed and placed on a box of stationery. The $5.95 sticker on a paper back book was attached to an lawn mower.
When the store opened the next morning you would have expected total chaos. Surprisingly, though, the store operated just like normal for 4 hours. Some customers literally got some steals while others felt the merchandise was way over priced. Incredibly, four hours slipped by before the hoax was discovered.
In the department store of American culture, Satan has deceptively switched the price tags and far more than 4 hours have passed since he did it. Things are valued more than people, pleasure is priced higher than faithfulness, profits mean more than integrity, and God is loo often seen as unnecessary baggage. The tags have been switched and we need lo sound the alarm.
B) Satan is out to destroy all who do not know Jesus.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” - John 10:10a
A wolf, a fox, and a bear went deer hunting. Fortune smiled on them; and each got a deer. They sat down to discuss how the spoils should be divided. The wolf said, “It’s obvious that the only fair way of distribution would be for us each to get one deer.” The bear promptly ate the wolf! Then the bear asked the fox his thoughts on the subject. The fox said immediately, “I think you should have all three deer.” The bear was pleased. “Where did you get such wisdom?” he asked. “From the wolf,” said the fox.
Why did the bear eat the wolf? Because that’s what bears do. I bet you that the fox eventually was eaten as well, along with all three deer! It was foolish to go along with the bear to begin with.
Understand, if you’ve not thrown your lot in with Christ, you’ve thrown in your lot with the Devil; and his nature is to steal your joy, kill your sense of purpose, and destroy your soul for all eternity.
Apart from Christ, we’re at the mercy of both sin and Satan! We can’t know freedom apart from Christ! Apart from Christ, we are a loser! We experience loss with respect to knowing freedom and with respect to:
B. Knowing Fulfillment. Apart from Christ, we are kept . . .
From living with a sense of internal peace.
A black hole is a swirling mass deep in outer space that like a ravenous beast, swallows any bit of matter that comes close to it. The human heart is like that. There is an emptiness at our core that is just like a black hole - an emptiness that seeks to be filled with anything that comes close to it that might possibly satisfy. But what can satisfy the black hole of the human heart? Can wealth, pleasure, travel, fame, learning, art? These can no more fill that inner void than a fistful of pebbles can fill the grand Canyon.
The book of Ecclesiastes tells of the journey of one man, Solomon, who went on a journey to see what, if anything, in this world could fill the void within. Solomon said, “Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure,” (Ecclesiastes 2:10 NLT). But what was the result? “Everything is meaningless - chasing the wind,”
(Ecclesiastes 2:17 NLT). What was Solomon’s conclusion?
“When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person.” - Ecclesiastes 12:13 (Amplified)
“I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.” - John 14:27a (NLT)
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in You.” - Augustine
2) From living with a sense of eternal purpose.
Through Christ, one is called to live for things of eternal significance. “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” - Philippians 1:21 (NIV)
As followers of Christ, we’re enlisted in the Lord’s army, called to “storm the gates of Hell itself” (Matthew 16:18). Followers of Christ have been given “marching orders” in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
Christianity can be summed up in four words:
1. Admit 2. Submit 3. Commit 4. Transmit
Apart from Christ, we’re nothing but a loser! We lose the opportunity to know freedom from sin’s burden and Satan’s bondage. We lose opportunity to know fulfillment through a life lived with internal peace and eternal purpose, and we experience loss with respect to . . .
C. Knowing a Future.
1) In which we will dwell in God’s presence.
One who has chosen to follow Christ, can rest assured of one day dwelling forever in the presence of the Lord.
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” - John 14: 1-3 (NLT)
Apart from Christ, we have no freedom, no fulfillment, and no future! Yet all that can change, for God’s offer is . . .
2. For all who choose - “whoever believes.”
When one chooses to believe in Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, they can pass from a life with no freedom to a life of perfect freedom! They can pass from a life of no fulfillment to absolute fulfillment! They can pass from a life with no future to a life with a glorious future! But the key to it all is their making the choice to
believe in Christ as their Savior and Lord!
Conclusion: A little boy came home with a dog that he asked his parents if he could keep. His parents said they were concerned that the dog belonged to someone else. “No he doesn’t” said the boy, “He’s a lost dog.” “How do you know?” his father asked. “Because,” the boy answered, “I saw a man looking for him.”
Jesus came to seek and save those who are lost (Luke 19:10). If you are here today without Jesus, I know He is looking for you. Won’t you come to Him today?
