The Price Is Right
No doubt, upon reading the title of this article, you thought of the game show of the same name. The Price Is Right is an American television show where contestants compete by guessing the prices of merchandise to win cash and prizes. Contestants are selected from the studio audience as the announcer calls their names and invokes the show's famous catchphrase, "Come on down!" This show began in 1972. Per Wikipedia, The Price Is Right has aired over 9,000 episodes since its debut. It is the longest-running game show in the United States and is one of the longest-running network series in United States television history.
However popular this, or any other show or series is, there is much which is of greater value, and for which a greater price has been paid. We’ll not take the time to discuss the myriad material goods that man can buy, possess, or attain. All these, according to Eccl. 2:18-19 are to be left to someone else, and “who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool?” Then the Spirit has Solomon call all this vanity. Additionally, in 2Pet. 3:10 we are told that all the material things and the earth itself “shall be burned up.”. To dispel any doubt, we are also told in 2Pet. 3:12 that even the “elements”, of which all material consists, will “melt with fervent heat”.
Therefore, we need to concentrate on that of man which remains beyond this life. That is the soul. Every member of humanity has a soul and will spend eternity somewhere. But what is of greater importance than this is the fact that a great price has been paid so that souls needn’t be lost. This price could no man pay because man is sinful. In Matt. 16:26, Jesus posed the question: For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Man can offer nothing because man really owns nothing. All that we have control over has been “loaned” to us by God while we are here. Christ, being without sin, was the only one that could pay that price.
We are also reminded of the fallacy of relying on even precious material things in 1Pet. 1:18-19, as well as the price that was paid by Christ so the souls of man could be redeemed. Silver, gold, and precious stones don’t have enough value to redeem a soul. Christ gave His life on the cross where He shed His blood so we could be saved. The entire physical existence of Jesus was for this very purpose. We are reminded in Phil. 2:7-8 that Christ “made Himself of no reputation”, came as a man, and “humbled Himself” to die on the cross and shed His blood. This was the “price” He was willing to pay. According to Heb 10:12, we see this called a “sacrifice”.
God also sacrificed in sending His Son. John 3:16 is a much-loved, yet often misquoted passage which shows God’s Sacrifice for our benefit. Most folks fail to realize what price God paid so we could have the opportunity to be saved. The fact that God sent His Son, or that Christ willingly died on the cross did not save anyone. We see this again in 1John 4:9 where God’s Love was manifested to us in sending His Son so we could live. This passage speaks of the possibility of eternal life. In Eph. 3:11 we are told this was God’s plan for man even prior to the creation of the earth and of man. Yes, the price is right, because it is the only price that could be paid to save a soul.
But just because the Godhead has paid a great price so our souls can be saved, doesn’t negate the fact that we also have responsibility for our soul’s salvation. Don’t get me wrong. We cannot save ourselves from our sins by good works etc. The first part of Titus 3:5 makes this abundantly clear. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; However, just because we cannot “redeem” our own souls, does not mean we don’t have responsibility in our possible salvation.
When Christ was on earth, just after foretelling His death in Luke 9:22, He spoke of one of the many sacrifices men must make to be able to receive this great benefit. In Luke 9:23-24 He said: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. One sacrifice we must make, or price we must pay is a daily surrender to His Will.
But before we can daily surrender to Him, we must become children of God. We are clearly told in John 1:12 those that “receive Him” have been given “power” to become “the sons of God”. How does one become a son? He is born. John 3:16 was a part of Christ’s answer to Nicodemus which began in John 3:3. We must be “born again”. The beginning of the price we must pay per John 3:5 is to die to sin and be born of “water and the Spirit” in baptism for the remission of past sins. Then we see in Rom. 6:2 that since we are “dead to sin” we are not to “live any longer therein”. This is what it means to “take up thy cross daily”. It also requires daily reading, study, and meditation on God’s Holy Word. To do otherwise is to argue that your soul is not worth it! Yes, the price is right !
The Godhead has done their part and paid the enormous price so that we can become the children of God and inherit. Won’t you do your part, obey the gospel, and then grow and labor in the kingdom till you receive the prize?
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
