GIFT HORSE

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. - James 1:17

I used to love old westerns. As a child, I could tell the good guys from the desperados. They wore cleaner Stetsons, tidier clothes and neater shaven faces from the outlaws. The good guys worked the land, saved the ranch from foreclosure, rescued the widow in distress. And any form of gratitude was extended by a tip of the hat and an “Aw shucks. It tweren't nuthin’.” What I found fascinating was that the good guy never took life or, for that matter, a gift for granted. He knew the value of each and handled well what was given.

So it was almost a month ago that I got an object lesson from watching the movie “The Man from Snowy River.” An old timer offered a young, outback rancher a horse. When the young chap humbly turned down the offer, you can imagine the look of utter surprise on the elderly frontiersman’s face. The gruff but gentle soul said, “You never look a gift horse in the mouth!” It was considered an insult to the one giving the gift and a sign of ignorance from the one on the receiving end.

I had to humble myself as well because there have been times I’ve turned down God’s gift of forgiveness. Looking for the loophole or the bottom to drop out of the offer, I was more guilty of not trusting the “giver of every good and perfect gift.” Many a situation, I had come up a day late and a dollar short of common sense. I was given a choice. All I had to do was accept the offer of His “gift horse.”

God has always made available to everyone this “gift horse.” His word is not only a guarantee of the gift’s authenticity, but His bond to authenticating our lives. That’s just a fancy way of offering redemption. “If you confess your sins, I AM faithful and just to forgive you of your sins and to cleanse you from ALL unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).

Sadly, some of us reject God’s gracious gift for various reasons. However, one does come to mind. It might not be an obvious gesture on our part, but in many ways, we try to pay for our sins with laborious sacrifices. “I’ll feel forgiven once I clean up my act” may sound like a plan in our heads, but “that there’s crazy talk!” echoes the old timer from the hitching post.

With all feelings aside, God did say He was faithful and just to forgive. Follow my train for a second -- how many of us set about the task of cleaning our house from roof to basement before the “hired help” comes a’calling? What’s the point of their role if all we’re going to do is break out the mop and pail ourselves? Save the money and trust the professionals. And that’s who God is. He is the GREAT I AM. He is THE way, THE truth and THE life. Can’t find anyone or anything more qualified than that. He who knew NO sin BECAME sin in our stead. Why? So we might become in Him righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21).

God provides us with the best He has -- His one and only son, Jesus. And Jesus breaks the power of cancelled sin. Jesus sets the prisoner free. Jesus is our sin offering, our guilt offering, even our love offering. Now like the green horns we are, we have a choice. Accept or reject the gift of forgiveness. God’s mighty plain and clear with His gifts. He’s a-offerin’. Are ya takin’?