When Capitalism is Not
Capitalism in its purest sense is an economic system in which there is private ownership, free market, profit motive. Individuals or businesses own the means of production, they hire laborers who are paid a wage, the goods and services are traded based upon supply and demand, there is a desire to make money. You have some product or service to sell. I want it. I have money. I buy it. An unforced and even exchange.
Unlike what the rock band Led Zeppelin sings, she’s buying a stairway to Heaven, God’s economy is not like capitalism or any of the other world economic systems. We cannot buy our way into Heaven. We cannot earn our way into Heaven. We cannot barter or trade our way into Heaven.
Then, just how do we gain this eternal life? The answer: by putting faith and trust in Jesus Christ, God’s Son. The world often uses words such as saved or born again to indicate someone’s eternal salvation. It is believing in the death and resurrection of Christ. The death of Christ was substitutionary, meaning He died in our place. Here is what we read in scripture: “For the wages of sin is death (eternal separation from God); but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
His bodily resurrection proclaims God’s triumph over the forces of evil, and for those who profess faith in Christ Jesus, this atonement (reparation for our sin) assures us of our final victory over sin and death. Our righteousness (morally made right) comes through faith. None of us are righteous on our own – Romans 3:9-31.
It is the reality that your salvation, my salvation, depends upon what Christ has done for us, not what we do or will do for Him. You might ask, how do I know this is true? In Romans 10:9 we read these words: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Jesus himself claims that He is the only way to God, who in His great compassion offers those who believe in Him abundant life now (John 10:10) and eternal life forever (John 3:16, 36). That would certainly be an arrogant statement if it was not true. When questioned by his disciple Thomas about not knowing the “way,” here is what Jesus answered: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
The alternative of coming to the Father? Separation from Him. Eternal damnation. Don’t believe me? It comes straight from Jesus: “Then they (the unsaved, the not born again) will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” Matthew 25:46.
So, unlike capitalism in which an even exchange occurs (goods/services exchanged for money), there is no buying a stairway that leads us to heaven, to eternal life. This peace with God begins by admitting you are a sinner (thus, you need a Savior), believing that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you, and then asking Jesus into your heart and life.
That asking is not some magic formula, there are no special words. It is something like this – Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead to give me new life. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. I give myself to you.
In one way, this asking for new life is like capitalism. There is an exchange. But unlike capitalism, this is not an even exchange. It is free (for the asking) for you and me, but it costs Jesus everything, including His life. Amen
You might be asking, what if this new life thing is not true? Won’t I look kinda foolish by believing something not true? I counter that good question with this – what if it is true, but you fail to believe that which is true? Which one would you rather be wrong about?
Let me end with these lyrics, also from the song “Stairway to Heaven” – Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run there’s still time to change the road you’re on.
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