Dear friends,

     The evangelist D. L. Moody told this story long ago:
     There was once a man in England who had set out posters all over London which said that if anyone was in debt, and if they would come to his office before noon on a certain day, bringing proof of their indebtedness, that it would be arranged that the debt would be completely paid.
     The news of this spread all over the city.  But no one believed it.  Many believed it was only a hoax.  Others were embarrassed by their debts - and didn't want to share the information with anyone else.  Well, the day eventually came.  And instead of long lines at the man's office, there was no one.
     A while later, about ten o'clock, a man came walking by.  He looked this way and that.  He stood outside the office, wondering if he should go through with it or not.  Finally, he slipped in.  "I saw a notice around town that if anyone would come here at a certain time you would pay their debts; is it true?"
     "Yes," said the man.  "It's very true.  Did you bring the necessary papers with you?"  "Yes."
     And the man paid the debt.  In fact, he was quite amiable and invited his now debt free friend to stay and talk.  Before twelve o'clock rolled around, two more people has come and had their debts paid.  Others stood outside the door.  "It's all a show!" they said.
     When non came, everyone was free to go.  The scoffers outside asked, "Well, did he really pay your debts?"  "Yes," they said, "it was all true!"  "Oh, then we'll go in and get ours paid!"  They went, but it was too late.  Twelve o'clock had passed.
     This story - from over a century ago! - shows us that things haven't changed.  When we hear of something that would benefit us, which is free, we discount it.  We ridicule it.  We assume there can be no value in something free.
     We like to get our money's worth.  There's just something about putting that cash on the barrelhead and getting a good deal - on anything.  But something for free!?  That just doesn't seem right.  It goes against our culture of materialism, our ethic of frugality, our faith in capitalism.
     No matter what it is - from the "prize" in the box of Crackerjacks to a new car:  if it's coming free, it seems "too good to be true".
     Well guess what - salvation through Jesus Christ is free.  100% absolutely free.  There's absolutely no cost to us.  And that's where we have to be careful.  If we give money to a political party, we feel "invested" in the candidate.  If we give our time to help at the school or the Club or (!) the church, we feel that we have a stake in the goings-on there.  But when we trust Jesus to pay our debt - and you know that I'm talking about sin here - we have not given anything.  Jesus has taken it away from us.
     So many people think of the Good News like the scoffers outside that philanthropist's office.  "I'm a good person," the scoffers say.  "I don't need to do this Jesus thing."
     And then they realize.  And often it's too late.  Just as the philanthropist's office was only open until noon, our time is limited.  We don't know how much time we have left to spend in this world.  God may call us Home any day - any time.
     We can't have faith on our own terms.  The fact is hat we have a debt (sin) that is so overwhelming, we can never pay it in full.  We have no hope, unless someone comes along and pays it for us.  That's where Jesus comes in.  He invites us to himself.  He frees us.  And he even asks us to become his friends.
     And this costs us nothing.  But for some, it's too good to be true.  For others, it's something they just don't think they need.  Even if it is FREE!  So they just pass it up.
     It will soon be Thanksgiving.  You and I will spend a lot of money on a great feast.  We'll invite friends and family who will pay for transportation to join us for that feast.  And then we'll sit around and think of the next holiday for which we spend too much money:  Christmas.
     Instead why don't we reflect on the gift that's being given to us right now:  the gift of salvation.  A priceless, priceless gift.  Yet one that is totally free.  And let's not only be thankful for it:  let's be appreciative of it!  Let's enjoy it!
     Let's not take it for granted another minute!  Just because it came to us for free, it's the most precious thing we have!
     Marcia and I wish you a thanksgiving filled November<

Pastor Jon West