Eternal Life is never for sale. There are no Black Friday deals on salvation. You can stop waiting for the perfect day and sale to come along.
“salvation is not a cheap experience” Jeffery R. Holland
How much does it cost?
People are all to frequently interested in improving their circumstance rather than themselves. They want the fruit without the effort. But the plan ordained before this world involves salvation as a process of sin, sorrow, suffering, and struggling to incorporate or inherent Christ-like characteristics through doing, not buying. Take for example, Simon in the New Testament. “And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money…” Acts 8:18
The response from Peter is predicable but instructive, “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.” All of the gifts of God whether it be a talent, characteristic, blessing, promise or ultimately eternal life is obtained in the same way; obedience to God’s laws.
Eternal Life requires a lot of this one thing
Obedience is the soul of salvation
All of our doing doesn’t give us a discount on salvation. The process of acquiring or becoming is known as discipleship, a common theme for Neal A. Maxwell who summaries the cost everyone who desires to have it all must pay,
“the dues of discipleship are high” The Pathway of Discipleship
We cannot internalize real consecration without our own “clinical experience.” That experience came for one rich young who had kept all of the commandment from his youth (really?) and thought he had salvation for sure. Yet, when his clinical experience came to give away all he had (been given), he had buyers remorse before he even completed the purchase. He thought his doing had given him a discount on discipleship, “when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions” Matthew 19:20-22 He probably wanted a reminder of how wonderful he was. Instead he received a reprimand to repent and remember, if money (or any other earthly thing) has you, God doesn’t.
We already know what is at stake (eternal life) and what is required (everything), but somehow we are still surprised that there is no short-cut or sale to salvation. Be of good cheer, I do know of one short-cut; begin today. He will lead you along.
God wants you to have it all
He has no distracting hobbies except in bringing to pass the “immortality and eternal life of man.” But to obtain it all, we have to be willing to give it all. “he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness” 2 Nephi 26:33 “every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Isaiah 55:1
Another good read
