WHAT IS THE BEST GIFT OF ALL?

“Every good gift and every perfect present is from above, coming down from the father of the celestial lights.” Yes of the many gifts that god has given mankind; there is one that is greater than all the res. What is it? Jesus’ well-known words, recorded at John 3:16 tells us: “God loved the world that he gave his only-begotten son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.”

The gift of God’s only-begotten son that would certainly be the greatest gift that any one of us could ever receive, for thereby we can freed from the bondage to sin, old age, and death. Try as we may, on our own there is nothing we can do to be released from that bondage. However, in his great love, God provided what is needed to bring about that release. By giving his only-begotten son, Jesus Christ, as the ransom, Jehovah God gave obedient mankind the prospect of life everlasting. But what exactly is the ransom? Why is it necessary? And how can we benefit from it?

A ransom is a price paid to buy back something forfeited or to bring about release form bondage. The bible explains that our first parents, Adam and Eve, were created sinless, with the prospect of enjoying life forever on a paradise earth along with the offspring they would latter produce. Sadly, they forfeited all of that by choosing to disobey God, thus becoming sinners. What was the result? The bible answers: Through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because they had all sinned. Instead of passing on perfect life to his offspring, Adam passed on sin and it’s consequences was death.

In the case of the ransom, what is paid must be equal to what was lost. When Adam deliberately disobeyed God, he sinned, and the result was the loss of a perfect human life, Adams life. According to the bible, that caused Adam’s offspring to become enslaved to sin and death. Hence, it took that surrendering of another perfect human life, Jesus’ life. Giving as a sacrifice to make release from bondage possible. It is only because God lovingly paid this ransom that mankind has the prospect of enjoying what Adam and Eve lost life forever on a paradise earth.

In view of what is accomplishes, there is no doubt that God’s gift of the ransom, which makes everlasting life possible, is the greatest gift of all. To appreciate what a perfect present it is, let us see how in surpassing ways, it satisfies the factors that help us to make gifts worthwhile, as discussed in the preceding article.

SATISFIES OUR DESIRE: - We humans have a strong innate desire to keep on living. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) although on our own we are unable to satisfy that desire, the ransom makes it possible for use to do so. The bible says; “for the wages of sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.”

FILLS OUR NEED: - Humans could not provide the ransom. The bible explains; “the ransom price for their life is so precious that it is always beyond their reach, “(psalm 49:8) therefore, we were in desperate need of divine assistance in order to be released from bondage to sin and death. But “through the release by the ransom paid by Christ Jesus. God has provided just what just what is needed.

IS PERFECTLY TIMED: - The bible tells us: “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Because it was given “while we were yet sinners,” the ransom providers assurance of the depth of God’s love for use despite our sinful state. And it gives us mush to look forward to, even though we have to endure the consequences of sin.

REVEALS A MOTIVE NOBLE SELFLESS: - The Bible points out what moved God to offer his son as the ransom. “By this the love of God was reveled in our case that God sent his only-begotten son in the world so that we might gain life through him. The love is in the respect, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us.” How can you show that you appreciate the greatest gift of all? Recall that Jesus words at John 3:16 point out that only those “exercising faith” in him will be saved. Faith, according to the bible, is “the assured expectation of what is hoped for.” To have that assurance, accurate knowledge is essential. For this reason, we urge you to take to learn about God, that giver of this “perfect present,” and to find out what you must do to enjoy the everlasting life that Jesus ransom sacrifice has made possible for you.

We are confident that as you learn about and benefit from this greatest gift, you will be moved to exclaim: “Thanks to God through Jesus Christ our lord!”