While getting ready to face the day, I noticed something on the television.\u00a0 An ad for \u201chair club for women\u201d was running.\u00a0 Photos flew by of before and after shots of women. Most had been afflicted with bare spots or thinning mane and the \u201cafter\u201d photos showed them with gloriously full tresses.<\/p>\n
Then I saw it.\u00a0 Down in the corner the small print said, \u201cResults may vary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ahh.\u00a0 Yes, indeed.\u00a0 Results may vary.\u00a0 The old \u201ccaveat emptor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Let the buyer beware.<\/p>\n
The ad might as well say \u201cthese are not typical,\u201d as advertisers are forced to do by truth-in-advertising laws.<\/p>\n
Sadly, in our culture we\u2019re used to such come-ons and slick sales spiels. No one expects the used car salesman to tell you why we should be cautious in buying this particular car.\u00a0 We\u2019ve learned to turn a suspicious eye toward the seller of the house who cannot quit raving about all its fine points.\u00a0 What, we wonder, is he not saying?<\/p>\n
Which brings up another point\u2026<\/p>\n
The fine print of the gospel<\/strong><\/p>\n Has anyone ever found \u201cfine print\u201d\u00a0in the Lord\u2019s offer of salvation? Is there anywhere that we are told things such as:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2013You\u2019re going to love Jesus, but not everyone has the complete package of sins forgiven, name written in the Book of Life, acceptance into God\u2019s family, and Holy Spirit\u2019s entrance.<\/p>\n \u2013You\u2019re going to love Jesus but not everyone gets all their sins forgiven. Some get all, some get 40 percent, and some more. Results vary.<\/p>\n \u2013What we are offering is the Truth, but not everyone has to call on the name of Jesus.\u00a0 Other deities may also be invoked in various cultures of the world.<\/p>\n Anyone ever seen any of that?\u00a0 No, you haven’t and you won\u2019t.<\/p>\n Thank God, you will not find any such in God\u2019s Word. Instead, we find statements such as:<\/p>\n Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely (Revelation 22:17).<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n As many as believed, to them He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12).<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13).<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n If anyone thirst, let him come unto me and drink\u2026. (John 7:37).<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Whoever comes to me, I will in no wise cast out (John 6:37).<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n May I make a suggestion or two?<\/p>\n –First, look up those scriptures<\/p>\n –Second, in reading them in your Bible, look closely for an asterisk.\u00a0 Do you see anything directing you to footnotes with qualifying statements such as: \u201cOnly for residents of Israel or New Jersey\u201d?\u00a0 Or \u201cResults may vary\u201d or \u201cNot typical\u201d or even \u201cOnly for the educated.\u201d<\/p>\n –Third, smile really big. You are included in every one of those \u201cwhosoevers!\u201d\u00a0 You are an \u201canyone.\u201d\u00a0 You can come to Jesus!<\/p>\n Freely come drink, words the soul to thrill.\u00a0 O, with what joy they my heart do fill. For when He said \u2018whosoever will,\u2019 Jesus included me.<\/em>\u00a0(Hymn by Johnson Oatman)<\/p>\n –And fourth, for the rest of your life, thank Him for accepting someone like you\u2013someone who deserved hell (yes, you do!), someone who brings nothing to qualify for heaven\u2013into His eternal family.\u00a0 Thank Him for loving you!<\/p>\n Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God! (I John 3:1)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While getting ready to face the day, I noticed something on the television.\u00a0 An ad for \u201chair club for women\u201d was running.\u00a0 Photos flew by of before and after shots of women. Most had been afflicted with bare spots or … Continue reading