In 1945 a loaf of bread cost 9 cents, a gallon of gas 15 cents, a new car $1,025, and a new house, $4,625. These prices doubled by 1955. We all know the price of them today. Inflation affects most everything of value, except those things that are the most valuable. Air is still free. We may pay to filter it, cool it, or heat it, but air is free. Water is free. We may pay t o filter it, have it piped to our house, purify it, etc., but water is free. All of God’s creation is free.
What causes inflation? Two causes are man’s carelessness and greed. We are our own worst enemy when considering inflation, disease or sin. However, there is no inflation in salvation. It costs no more today than it did when Adam lived, or Noah, or Paul. The reason – salvation too is a gift of God. (Rom.6:23) It cost God his Son and Christ his life, but it’s free to man. The price we must pay to obtain it is no more today than it ever was. Faith and obedience have always been the terms of receiving it. (Hebrews 11) They will never change as long as this world stands.
In the first century the lost were required to believe in Christ, repent of their sins, and be baptized for the remission of sins in order to be saved. (Mark 16:16; Luke 24:47) Nothing has ever been added or subtracted. The saved had to live faithful Christian lives, observing all things the Lord and his apostles had commanded. (Matt.28:20; Rev.2:10) Inflation, or deflation, will never affect salvation. The cost will never rise or fall. Let us be thankful that it is free, and that it will never be taken away from us, as long as we receive and keep it on God’s terms.
Inflation over the years may cause regret that we did not invest in a particular stock, or piece of land, etc. when it was cheap. One could have sold it today resulting in great wealth. The opportunity is now gone forever. However, such a loss cannot be compared to the loss of one’s soul. Jesus said. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?…” (Matt. 16:26) We must take advantage of the offer of eternal life before the opportunity is lost forever!
-Richard
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