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Two Cents or Ten Million Dollars Charles Holland Stuart Pidman was entering the bank on a beautiful Friday morning when, looking through the glass entry doors, he spotted an elderly gentleman coming out. Opening the door, Stu stood to one side to let the man pass through unhindered. As he reached the outside, the gentleman turned to Stu and began to introduce himself "Young man," he said, "I am the personal attendant of Mr. Tyrone Cunningham the well know financier. This morning as I left his residence to conduct some business affairs for him, he instructed me to give a gift to the first person that showed me a kindness while thus engaged. You are the first to do so. Now, you have a choice as to what that gift will be. You can either take two cents right now, or you can meet me at this location one week from today and I will give you a check for ten million dollars. You must let me know what you decide in two minutes." Stu's brain was suddenly filled with a multitude of considerations. "Wow," he thought, "Ten million dollars is a lot of money. I would really like to have that. I have often heard people speak of Tyrone Cunningham. It is said that he is very wealthy and quite able to give that amount of money away. He has the reputation of being a man of his word. He is also known for being very generous with his wealth. However, I really don't know if any of this is true. I have never met Mr. Cunningham nor have I ever seen him nor heard him speak a word. I do not know anyone to whom he has given anything. In fact, I have never known one person who has had any direct contact with him whatsoever. I am not sure that he even exists. This all might very well be just a hoax. Even if he meets me here next week and gives me the promised check it might be no good. Furthermore, I have always heard it said that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Two cents may not be as much as ten million dollars but it is now and sure." Without further delay Stu turned to the elderly gentleman and said, "I will take the two cents." The transaction was completed and the man walked out of Stu's life forever. Now, you are probably thinking that Stu Pidman was a really stupid man. You might be inclined to think, "He would only have had to wait one week and he would have received a fortune. Even if it were a hoax he would only have sacrificed a very small amount. Such a small sacrifice for such a huge reward. He was crazy for accepting a pittance when he could have had it all!" Well, that is almost exactly the choice that most of the world is making each and every day of their lives. God is saying, "I am giving you a few years on this earth, right now, to do with as you please. I am also giving you a share of the material wealth of the world, again to do with as you please. However, what I really want is to give you blessings without equal in the history of the universe. I want to give you an unending life in a place where the rewards are so enormous that your mind is completely unable to comprehend them. The only thing I require is that you serve my Son for the short time that you have left to live on the earth and keep the commandments that He has given you. Some of them require that you return a part of the time and material blessings that I have already given to you." Rather than do this, though, people say, "Well, I have often heard of this God. He has the reputation of being someone who never fails to keep His promises. It is said that He certainly has the means and abilities to do anything He says He will do. He is also known for being kind and loving and generous. However, I have never met Him nor seen Him nor heard Him speak a word. Furthermore, I have never met anyone who has had any direct contact with Him whatsoever. I am not sure that He even exists. This all might very well be just a hoax. Even if He does exist there is no proof that I will ever receive anything worthwhile from Him. In addition, I have always heard it said that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. So, I am going to use what little time and wealth I have for myself I am going to do what I want to do, when I want to do it, how I want to do it, and use all the material blessings I have to enjoy myself during this short life. It may not be nearly as much as God has promised his servants but it is here now and, in my mind, more sure." Friends do not be misled. God does exist and He is kind and loving and generous. The reward He has promised is absolutely sure. It is a gift that cannot be earned or deserved. Anyone can choose to take it or leave it. However, the conditions He has attached to the gift through His Son, Jesus Christ must be met before the gift will be conveyed. Many people have the mistaken opinion that if there are conditions to be met it cannot be a free gift but will be at least partially earned. Very few would make this argument for gifts that are not religious in nature. For example, Grandparents might tell their granddaughter that they will give her $5,000 per year for four years providing that she is enrolled full time in a college or university. If she meets this condition and takes the money has she earned it? Is it not still a gift? Of course it is! It is the same with God's gift of salvation through the death of His Son. The conditions that must be met are very simple in nature. They, with scripture proofs cited, are as follows: One must come to believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God and that His death on the cross was the sacrifice that paid the price for our sins. (John 3:16; John 8:24; Acts 8:3 7; Rom. 5: 1 0; Col. 1: 20; Acts 16:3 0-3 1) An in depth study of the Bible will usually convince even a skeptic of the truthfulness of this assertion. Many has been the skeptic who has begun a study of the Bible in order to prove it a subterfuge and has come away from that study convinced of the truthfulness of this greatest of all books. Once convinced of the foregoing one is required to confess his belief in the same. (Matt. 10:32-33; Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:9-l0 Next, one must repent of his sins. (Luke 13:3,5- Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19;) Again many people are confused as to the meaning of this word. They think that this simply means that they must be sorry or regretful for ones past sins. The Greek word that is translated "repent" basically means to change ones mind for the better. Thayer adds, "To amend heartily with abhorrence of ones past sins. Simply stated, one must make a complete and radical change in his/her life. The change must be one of replacing service of self to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, one must be baptized for (Greek, , meaning "in order to") the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16- Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21) The word "baptize" is a transliteration of the Greek word "baptizo" which means 'to dip, to immerse, to submerge, to make overwhelmed." This baptism must be in water. (John 3:23- Acts 8:38-39) There must be a burial in the water. (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12) This puts one "into Christ." (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27) "All spiritual blessings are in Christ." (Eph. 1: 3; 1 Cor. 15:22; 2 Tim. 1: 1) When one believes, repents of his sins, confesses Jesus Christ, and is baptized, he is saved. (Mark 16:16) When one is saved the Lord adds him to the church. (Acts 2:47) Note that this church was in existence in the first century. This church is Christ's church. (Matt. 16:18) Congregations are called "churches of Christ." (Rom. 16:16) One should become a member of one of these local congregations. (Acts 9:26) (Caution must be exercised here as there are several man made denominations that use the name, Church of Christ.) After this, one must make the service of God the top priority of his life. (Matt. 4: 10) He must do all things that Christ taught His apostles and all things they have taught us. (Matt. 28:20) He must keep himself pure. (I Tim. 5:22) He must be regular in worshipping God in the also must be busily engaged in the work of the Lord for the remainder of his life. (I Cor. 15:58) The work of the Lord is seeking and saving the lost. (Luke 19: 10) If one does all of this he will have that he/she will have the crown of eternal life and those unequaled blessings that God has promised. This course will provide the happiest life here and eternal life in the world to come. (Mark 10:30; Rom. 2:7; Rom. 6:23; Titus 1:2; 1 John 2:25; 1 John 5: 1 1; I John 5:13 Jude 1: 21 Rev. 2: 10) You wouldn't be foolish enough to take two cents when you could have ten million dollars a week later. Don't be foolish enough to take a few years of the pleasures of sin now when you could have blessings without end in just few years.
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