Bell Road Encourager Volume 1, No. 3     March 6, 2005 “Garage Sale” Christian
	With the thoughts of spring around the corner, many of us are eager for its arrival. Spring offers us so much to do. Many of us have been restricted during the winter from our spring time activities: planting flowers, grass cuttings, etc. But another event that many look forward to in the spring is the excitement of garage sales.      Isn’t it amazing – some of the deals that we can find at garage sales? Folks are wanting to clear out and get rid of things they no longer need. In fact, some things that they paid high prices for, they will now sell for pocket change.      Some Christians resemble garage sale items. I mean, here is a person whose sins have been taken away by “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29); whose soul has been purchased by the Son of God (Acts 20:28); who has had his name written in the “book of life” (Philippians 4:3); and because he has no “root-system,” he falls away into temptation’s snare (Luke 8:13), and his soul becomes no more than a “garage sale item.”      Do you know of folks like that? At the “drop of a dime,” they are willing to give up on all that God has provided them. Why can’t these folks see the big picture? Have they forgotten what Jesus said about their souls (see Matthew 16:24-26)?      Brothers and sisters, has the value of your soul been reduced to pocket change? Has the blood of Christ become something that you “trample underfoot,” and has His blood become an “unholy thing” to you (Hebrews 10:29)?      Brethren, it is absolutely essential that we make sure to those we are teaching the cost factor involved in following our Savior, and we would do well to remind those, even among our immediate families, of the price paid for our spiritual freedom (John 3:16; 8:32).      It is easy for us to forget that we are at war! Ephesians 6:10-18 is there for a reason. Inspiration knew of the coming conflicts that God’s children would encounter, thus the need to obey the “Captain of our salvation” (Hebrews 2:10). None of God’s children are immune from the devil’s attempts to make us rusty and corroded, and thus useless, soldiers in Christ’s army. The devil already has too many POWs (prisoners of war), due to lack of loyalty and commitment and, sadly, a large number who were once “soldiers of Christ.” Now they are MIAs (Missing in Action).      Where do you find yourself spiritually? Are you working, laboring for the Master, bringing in the sheaves, or do you stand idle all the day long (Matthew 20:6)?      Again, I would urge one and all to “count the cost.” As we sing: “What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus.” Yes, the precious blood of Jesus was shed for your sins and mine (Romans 5:8). And just as Christ died for each of us, all He asks in return is to live for Him daily (I Corinthians 15:58).      So, come spring time, and you get going to all those garage sales, as you pick up what you’re looking at and you see the price tag and realize what a deal you’re getting…remember the “price tag” of your soul. As the wise man Solomon stated: “Buy the truth and sell it not” (Proverbs 23:23). ---Article by Jim Lee in Biblical Insights, Vol. 3, No. 5 in May 2003; adapted by Robert Davenport
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