The quiz show Who wants to be a millionaire? is one of the most popular TV programmes in Britain and the USA.
Recently, on the British programme, a man was going for the last question and the £1,000,000 prize. He had sailed through the previous questions easily and with confidence. This man was not guessing. He knew the answers.
Then came the final question. He had already won half a million. If he got the answer wrong he would lose £468,000. But he did not have to answer. If he declined he could go home with the half million.
Afraid to commit
As soon as the final question was asked and the four possible answers shown. I said to my wife, ‘I know the answer. It’s C’, but I was wrong. The contestant, however, knew the right answer and even said what it was.
But the possibility of losing £468,000 made him hesitate.
He knew the right answer but was afraid to commit himself. In the end he did not play for the million – if he had he would have won. You could hardly blame him – a certain half million is better than a possible million.
What would you have done?
The interesting thing is that many people face a similar dilemma with regard to God. I am talking about folk who know the truth about God. They understand the gospel but will not commit themselves to what they know in their hearts is true.
Jesus the only answer
Are you like that? You know you are a sinner and that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. You know you need to be saved and that Jesus can and will save you if you turn to him in repentance and faith.
It is not a question of who wants to be a millionaire but of who wants to be a Christian. Who wants their sins forgiven? Who wants to be accepted by God? Who wants to go to heaven?
You know that Jesus is the only answer to the problem of your sin, but you will not commit yourself to him. You won’t do it because you are afraid of what you might lose. But you have lost sight of what you will most certainly gain if you become a Christian.
You are not like the man in the quiz – he won half a million anyway. But if you continue to reject Jesus you will lose everything. There are no gains for those who turn away from God’s offer of salvation.
The man on TV went away happy with his winnings. But I wonder if afterwards he regretted not having the courage of his convictions and going for the big prize.
God’s gift of eternal life
The biggest ‘prize’ of all is Christ. To have him as your Saviour far surpasses anything else in this world. It is to have peace with God and an assurance of a place in heaven. It is to know victory over sin, death and the grave – and to begin here and now to enjoy God’s gift of eternal life.
You know this is true so why don’t you trust the truth? I am not asking you to believe a fairy story or something you know is wrong. I am asking you to commit yourself to the one who is the Truth.
If you became a millionaire, the day would come when you would leave it all behind. You cannot take it with you. But Christ as your Saviour is for all eternity. Not only can you take him with you, but he goes before you into death – and takes you safely through death to the heaven of God.
Turn to Jesus now. He has promised not to turn you away. Go to him in prayer and ask him for forgiveness of sin. Then begin to enjoy true riches that you can never lose.
