The Mag - WMU

Door Number 1 or 2?
by Libby Quigg
In the televised world of game shows,
there is a moment when someone chooses
the prize behind door number 1 or door
number 2. She deliberates with a panicked
look on her face until a commercial break.
After the commercial break, she chooses
a door and crosses her fingers. The host
always points to the door that she did not
choose. The prize behind that door might
be a goat eating a potted plant. Then the
chosen door is opened. Depending on the
prize, the contestant either jumps up and
down, tackles the host in excitement, or
shrugs in disappointment and takes the
goat home. Picture yourself in that game
show moment. Behind door number 1
is doing good works and behind door
number 2 is faith. If you choose correctly,
you receive a bonus
prize of salvation.
Can you earn
your salvation by
being good or by
faith? In Galatians
3:1–5, Paul asks the
church this same
question, “Does
God give you his
Spirit and work
miracles among
you by the works
of the law, or by
your believing
what you heard?”
(v. 5). When
Paul asked this
question, he was
already prepared
to give them an
answer. He gave
the listeners a
little time to think
and compose an
answer. Meanwhile
Paul went to
a commercial
break for the
Old Testament
patriarch.
42
In Galatians 3:6–9, Paul answered his
own question by remembering Abraham.
Before there were laws written down to
follow, there was Abraham. Abraham
believed God, and those who believe
become children of Abraham. Because
Abraham believed, everyone can choose
to believe. Because Abraham was blessed,
everyone can be blessed. After hearing
that brief commercial for Abraham, how
would it affect your choice? Based on this
teaching of Abraham, which door leads to
salvation: good works or faith?
There is not a criterion to believe in
Jesus. He accepts everyone just as they are.
The old hymn “Just As I Am” reiterates
this exact point. Each verse sings, “Just as
I am . . . O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”
God does not require us to be something
else before we decide to believe.
There are no requirements or tests we
must pass to gain salvation. There is no
obstacle course that pushes us to our
physical limits to get us to the point of
salvation. God does not require anything,
except that we have faith. It is really so
simple that we often fall into thinking
that it must be more difficult than that.
The church that Paul was writing to tried
to institute a man-made plan to attain
salvation. However, Paul pointed out
that salvation is a gift from God. It is
given when we believe, but there are no
conditions that must be met to do that.
From Jesus’ life, we learn that there is
not even a time limit on deciding when
to believe. You can choose to believe at
any age. “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children
come to me’” (Matt. 19:14a). You can
choose to believe at any time in your life.
Even while hanging on the cross next to
criminals, “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly
I tell you, today you will be with me in
paradise’” (Luke 23:43). You can choose
to believe regardless of who you are or
your past. Even when confronted at the
well, a woman acknowledged her hope
in Jesus. “Then Jesus declared, ‘I, the one
speaking to you—I am he’” (John 4:26).
From these teachings, we can be confident
that everyone is given the opportunity to
choose to believe.
Today’s Challenge: Have you chosen
to believe? How can you strengthen
your belief?
Libby Quigg is a writer, guitarist, and dancer.
She teaches missions to the children and
Acteens ® in her church and community.
43