Now, don’t misunderstand me. I’ve got nothing against luck, winning something or even to be chosen to play “Who wants to be a Millionaire?” But the last time I was pressured on the phone to claim a supposed prize, I said dryly, “You know what, I don’t need any money. I’m already quite rich.” The gal on the other end was baffled. So baffled, that the conversation ended more abruptly than I had hoped. I really wanted to tell her why I am so rich. I’ll just tell you instead.

My father is rich. Very, very rich actually. As his son, I’m privileged to draw from his riches. It wasn’t always like that. I was adopted into the family as a teenager. And I really didn’t understand that my father chose me to be his heir. It amazes me even more today than it did then!

Even more amazing is that this fortune is not just for me, but can also be for you. My father has room for more. He is looking for more heirs. I’m quite certain of that.

You’re probably asking yourself, “What’s the catch? Nothing is free – at least not anything that’s worth much, anything that’s useful.“ – yeah, maybe. But there is something that won’t cost you a cent but is priceless. It’s the free gift of eternal life, which God, my father, wants to give to you. If you want it, you can have it – for free and without any requirements. And when you accept this gift you’ll become a child of God – an heir.

The Bible says, “The wages – or the consequences – of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life“ (Romans 6:23).

The Bible also explains that you can’t bribe God with your attempts at good works, or a certificate that you can get from a Christian group.

“For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

You can’t pay for a gift. Try paying the giver, and you’ll be met with a perplexed look. You can’t earn eternal life, because that would require a perfect, sinless life. Nobody has been able to do that yet and nobody will ever be able to do it. Only God’s only Son, Jesus Christ, lived a sinless life.

Jesus also took upon himself the deserved wages of your sin – death. Since he paid for that which you should have paid, he provided you the free gift of eternal life.

But you have to accept this gift yourself.

Why don’t you take your chance with my father? It’s worth it to be adopted by him. By the way: there’s no catch and no small print!