Michael Sparks walked into a thrift store and bought a souvenir copy of the US Declaration of Independence for $2.48. Later, as he looked closely at his parchment copy, he felt there was something unusual about it. So he had it assessed by experts, who told him it was one of now thirty-six remaining copies of two hundred commissioned by John Quincy Adams in 1820. Sparks then sold his rare copy of the Declaration for $477,650!
While the acquisition of this treasure for such a small price is astounding, there’s a treasure that’s infinitely better. As a child, I found out about a priceless, matchless, and eternal treasure that didn’t cost me a cent. But I didn’t find it at a thrift store.
My parents revealed to me that a man named Jesus had purchased this gift by giving His life on the cross as a sacrifice for my sins. They then told me this gift was called salvation. It promised the treasure of an abundant “life . . . to the full” on earth (John 10:10) and an “eternal life . . . in [God’s] Son” with Jesus (1 John 5:11). I accepted that gift by faith.
It's amazing to find an earthly treasure at low cost, but that can’t compare with the eternal treasure Christ offers at no cost. This treasure offered to each person is received as we “believe in the name of the Son of God”—Jesus (v. 13).
What does it mean for you to trust Jesus as your Savior? How can you tell others about this great treasure?
Thank You, Jesus, for paying the price for my salvation. It’s a treasure I could never purchase on my own.
Learn more about having a personal relationship with God.
John says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). This echoes the purpose of his gospel: “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31). Faith in Christ not only saves us from judgment but gives us abundant and eternal life. John uses the word life more than forty times in his gospel, most dramatically in the shepherd parable: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (10:10-11). Jesus gave up His life to make eternal life possible for us.
