Vol. 11 No.9 –May, 2013
She Could Have Been a Millionaire
Steve Klein
I was on the computer at home and the TV was on in the living room. The show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” was on, and I was half listening. In her quest to win a million dollars, a contestant was asked what the New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are known as collectively. That caught my attention. After narrowing her choices by using her 50/50 lifeline, she was left to choose between “the Psalms” and “the Gospels.” She chose the Psalms! She lost a chance at a million dollars because she did not know “the gospels.”
It seems incredible that an intelligent person in America could know so little about the best selling book of all time, the Bible. But multiplied millions throughout the world share her lack of knowledge.
The word “gospel” is used in the New Testament to refer to more than just an account of Jesus’ life written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It is the good news that includes the entire redemption story of Christ’s birth, life, death, resurrection as well as what sinners must believe and obey in order to gain eternal life. “The gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16). “Our Savior Jesus Christ has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10).
By hearing, believing and obeying the gospel, a person can hope to receive much more than a million dollars. The gospel tells us of a “hope which is laid up for you in heaven” (Col. 1:5). It speaks to us of becoming “fellow heirs and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel” (Eph. 3:6).
Those who fail to know and obey the gospel cannot look forward to that great reward. There will be a terrible end for those “who do not obey the gospel of God” (1 Pet. 4:17). Jesus will return one day “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thes. 1:8).
How sad is that someone lost a chance at a million dollars because they didn’t know the gospel. But much sadder still is the fact that many are losing the hope of eternal life for the same reason.
My brethren, the cup of the world’s ignorance is ours to fill with the glorious gospel. Let every Christian be ready to say with the apostle Paul that “as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts” (1 Thes. 2:4).