Gratis

You may already know the Latin word for “Freely”: ‘Gratis.’ Revelation 22:17 tells us that the water of life is ‘gratis’ to anyone who is thirsty and takes it. Jesus said in Matthew 10:8 that freely ye have received, freely give.

It was a cold January afternoon, and a poor beggar was wandering down a busy city street. The snow was collecting on his hair and tattered coat. He was tired and hungry, just looking for a handout. Then, a smell comes under his nose from a restaurant across the street. He makes his way through the traffic, and presses through the crowd, and presses his nose against the restaurant’s plate-glass window. The smells of the restaurant are intoxicating to him.

The down-and-out tramp has no work, no shelter, no money, and no hope. His stomach growls in protest, and his mouth waters as he watches the well-dressed, well-fed patrons enjoy their steak and lobster dinners. This is the finest restaurant in town. Who is he kidding by even looking upon the elegance of their feast? As a matter of fact, here comes the waiter to shoo him away, unappetizing scenery that he has become.

But the waiter’s face bears no rebuke. Instead, compassion is written across it. “I’ve brought you our finest entrée,” says the waiter, uncovering a sumptuous plate. The vagrant’s eyes grow wide, and he reaches for the embarrassing pocket change that is all he can offer. “Put your coins away,” laughs the waiter. “This one’s on our owner, who spotted you from the window. He knows you could never afford such a meal, and he offers this one ‘freely.’ Come back again when you’re hungry.”

The man is the story is a one-percenter. He is that one percent of society that no one cares about or seeks. He is the base and despised sinner. But Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost.  Jesus came all the way from Heaven to seek you and find you out in your wanderings and to save you and rescue you. He shed His very heart’s blood for you on the Cross to redeem (buy back) your soul from death and Hell. He wants a sinner. He longs after perishing sinners. He wants sin-blackened souls, so He can wash them white. He seeks dead souls to make them alive.

Look away to the Cross with me: See Jesus eyes, He has pity for you; Look into His side, it was opened that you may hide your sins in it. See those drops of crimson blood streaming from His hands and feet, every drop is trickling down to the ground for you; Hear his death shrieks, He is crying out for your sake. “For me?” you may say, Yes for you, if you are a sinner. Let go of your good works, your goodness is your own peril; your righteousness is your own destruction, flee to the Cross now with empty hands and cling to the bleeding Lamb for His forgiveness, mercy and lovingkindness.

Christ came into the world to save sinners. Christ died for the ungodly. Today, reader you are an invited ‘guest’ to the heavenly banquet of the King of Heaven, not a paying customer. You can’t buy the food that comes from the King’s table. It is Gratis – you have to like that word. Come, come to Christ, come at His own invitation. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. To believe is to trust in Christ – to drop into His great and powerful and loving arms that can catch the heaviest laden sinner that ever breathed. To believe is to fall flat on the Jesus’ promise (John 6:47) – to let Him do all for you and let Him save you by His Grace.  Being justified freely… - Romans 3:24