(by Dr. Larry Ollison)

There is a gift that has been purchased for you and it is the greatest gift in the universe. Without this one gift, all other gifts mean nothing. It is the gift of everlasting life.

Last week, I was watching a history program on television. The program told of the death and funeral of Abraham Lincoln. The commentator said that in the final years of Mary Lincoln's life, she had a strong desire to die and go to heaven so that she could see her husband. Then the announcer made a statement that startled me. He said, "That's what people used to believe back in those days." Then he explained that there was a time when people thought there was life after death. He implied that believing in it was as naive as believing the world was flat. How sad he didn't know the truth.

The truth is, there is life after death. You will exist in one million years and beyond. But the question is, where will you be and what will you be doing? Will you exist in the presence of God (eternal life) or will you exist separated from God in darkness (eternal death)?

Six thousand years ago, man separated himself from God through disobedience and all mankind received the curse of death. (Genesis 3.) Two thousand years ago, God sent His Son, Jesus, who gave His life as a perfect sacrifice and paid the price to redeem mankind from the curse (Hebrew 9:11-14; 1 Corinthians 7:23). He paid the price we could not pay (Matthew 25:28) and in the realm of the Spirit, everything was done that needed to be done so that man could have everlasting life.

Although the gift was made available to every person on the earth, eternal life was only activated for those who would receive it (John 3:16). This gift has been available for 2,000 years and today it is available for all who will receive it. Jesus called it being born again (John 3:3). Others call it becoming a Christian or getting saved. Some refer to it as the new birth. Whatever you call it, it is the same gift. The price for the gift of salvation and eternal life has been paid in full by the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7).

According to the Bible, all that is required to receive this gift is to:

● Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died for your sins (Romans 10:9-10).

● Believe that God raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 10:9-10).

● Repent (turn away from your sins) (Acts 2:28; 3:19).

● Confess Jesus before men and never deny that Jesus is your Lord and Savior (1 John 1:9; 4:15).

To receive eternal life may seem like a very simple thing to do, and that's because it is. All of the work has already been done by Jesus. He paid the price in full for this wonderful gift. All we have to do is receive it. God's plan is simple. It is so simple that everyone has the ability to accept it.

We are God's voice on this earth. If we do not share the gospel of the saving power of the blood of Jesus, then many will not hear. And if they don't hear, how can they receive?

If you are a Christian, you have been given the ministry of salvation. Jesus said that we should not keep the light covered, but that we should let our light shine into the world (Matthew 5:14-16). You should not be selfish. You have freely received this precious gift yourself, so you have a mandate from God to share it with others. You are a soul-winner!

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30).