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Psalm 49:1-9  
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world, both low and high, rich and poor alike: My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding. I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle: Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—so that they should live on forever and not see decay.

Would you like to take a trip to the moon? Better start saving up. According to the Golden Spike Company, a group planning private space travel, a round trip for two will cost $1.5 billion! Now, if you only want to go on a sightseeing trip around the moon that’s much cheaper—only $100 million. So, what would it cost for a one-way trip to heaven complete with eternal food and lodging?

Do you really think the completion of a confirmation class is enough for the ticket? Certainly, you’ll need to add a lifetime of church attendance, right? Hmm, maybe you’ll need the class, church involvement, and a “book” full of recorded good works. Think that will do it? 

The psalmist says that the expense for eternal life “is costly, no payment is ever enough.” A life full of great works, of religious worship, or a pile of money could never pay the ticket for eternal life. So God did for us what we could not do for ourselves. He sent His Son to be the one-time-for-all-time payment for our sin. No money transfer will cover eternal life. It can only be offered as a free gift. And…that’s exactly what God has done through Jesus. Here is the most important question you will ever answer: Have you accepted the free gift of eternal life? If you would like to accept this great gift, use the following prayer as a guide.

Father, I admit that there is nothing I can do to buy or earn a relationship with You. My best efforts, my most expensive gifts fall short. I believe that You sent Jesus to pay the cost for my eternal life with You. I believe Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead to do for me what I could not do for myself. Right now I trust in the complete work of Jesus alone as the only way to have an eternal relationship with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.