The Christian salvation is the gift of an opportunity. Eternal life is the gift of an opportunity. There are gifts that require no action on our part. Then there are gifts such as a piano that, if we are to obtain the value contained in them, require a great deal of effort on our part. The salvation, the eternal life, the glory, the joy, the peace, the redemption in Christ are always an opportunity. It is what we do with this opportunity that determines whether or not we actually gain glory, joy, and eternal life.

God has given us the opportunity to attain resurrection life, to gain a change of character, power, glory, eternal residence in the new Jerusalem, and an eternity of service and rulership in a new world of righteousness. Best of all we have the opportunity to become God's son. How we respond to this opportunity, this "piano," will determine our role in the Kingdom of God—the eternal Divine rule soon to come to the earth.

It is important to understand this in order to enter the salvation that is in Christ.

The Apostle Paul taught that salvation is the "gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8 and other passages).

One can observe in Christian literature such advice as the following: If someone were to hand you a hundred dollar bill and say, "take it, it is a gift," you would do it. Why won't you accept the gift of eternal life?

The assumption is that the Divine gift of eternal life is like the gift of a hundred dollar bill. Some, in spite of New Testament writings to the contrary, go so far as to claim that once you receive this undemanding gift it can never be taken from you. It is your hundred dollar bill forever. You cannot lose it.

Not only is this unscriptural, it is not true even in numerous material circumstances.

A few verses of the New Testament, particularly from Paul's Epistles, would seem to support the concept of the gift of salvation as being an undemanding gift. The remainder of the New Testament writings establish beyond doubt that this is not so. One's Christian life is hindered when the assumption is made that salvation is an undemanding gift.

The gift of salvation, of eternal life, would be better compared with the gift of a piano than with the gift of a hundred dollar bill. Someone may give us a piano but he cannot give us the ability to play the piano. The piano will remain a silent piece of furniture until we are willing to spend the years of disciplined effort required to bring music from the mute wood and steel.

If we are given a piano we are given the gift of the opportunity to become a pianist. The gift of salvation, of eternal life, is the gift of an opportunity. God gives to us the opportunity through the Lord Jesus Christ to attain eternal life.

To be continued.