The Most Wonderful Blessing

   It’s easy to recognize that God has blessed us.  Even most people facing serious difficulties in their lives would still quickly admit to being blessed by God.  Some are slower to identify God’s blessings in their lives, while others readily see them and continually thank God for them.  But few would deny that they have been blessed by God.

   If we asked people what blessings they were most thankful for, we’d get a wide variety of answers.  Some would say they’re thankful for their husband or wife.  Others would speak in glowing terms of their children.  Still others might have recently been employed after having gone without work for a time, and they‘re thankful to have a job.  Some might have just moved into a new home or bought a new car or some other material possession, and they’re thankful for those blessings.  Many who have recovered from serious illness or come through successful surgery, and others who are in the twilight years of their lives, are just thankful to be alive.  Every day is a blessing for them.
   Many people are praying for any number of specific blessings right now.  A lot of students are praying, or soon will be, for good grades as the school year draws to a close.
   The most wonderful blessing of all, though, stands alone.  None of the things mentioned above even comes close.  The most wonderful blessing of all is the opportunity for eternal salvation.  God loves us so much that He sent His Son to the cross specifically to die to pay the debt for the guilt of our sins (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8).  There was no way that we could pay that debt for ourselves, and it is a debt that had to be paid.  Without forgiveness, we’re doomed in the guilt of our sin (Rom. 6:23).  Through Christ, we can be forgiven (Acts 2:38) and look forward to eternal life (Jn. 14:6).  Nothing in this world begins to compare with such a blessing.  Even physical life, without hope of eternal life, is virtually meaningless.
   How could we ever adequately describe the blessedness of eternal salvation?  Going from death to life, from guilt to forgiveness, from condemnation to salvation.  This is a blessing that is available to everybody (Matt. 11:28-30).  Jesus said He came to seek and to save the lost (Lk. 19:10), all of the lost.  He told the apostles to preach the gospel to everybody everywhere (Mk. 16:15-16).  All those who call upon His name through faith, repentance and baptism will receive forgiveness and salvation (Acts 22:16).
   Sadly, though this most precious of all blessings is offered to all, most people will not accept it (Matt. 7:13-14).  Though they need this blessing above all others, most will not take it.  Though this is the only way to Heaven, most will choose to spend eternity in Hell.  Why?  Most people want their own way instead of God’s way.  What about you?  Have you accepted the most wonderful of all blessings, or is God still reaching out to you, longing for you to reach back?…