In 1945 a loaf of bread cost 9 cents, a gallon of gas 15 cents, a new car $1000, and a new house $4600. These prices doubled by 1955. Today, over seventy years later, these items cost more than twenty times as much. Everyone is concerned about inflation. It affects most everything of value, except what is the most valuable. Air is free. We pay to filter it, cool or heat it, but air is free. Water is free. We pay to filter it and have it piped to our house, but the water is free. In fact, all of God’s creation is free to mankind. These are natural resources. So, what causes inflation? Man’s carelessness and greed are two causes. Man is his own worst enemy when considering inflation, disease, or sin.
Inflation does not affect the price paid for salvation. It costs no more today than it did in the time of Adam, Noah or Paul. The reason is that salvation is a gift of God. (Rom. 6:23) The Son of God had to die to provide it for all who have ever lived, or who will ever live. (Rom. 3:23-26) The price He paid was His own precious blood. (I Pet. 1:18,19). This was a supreme price. All the gold and silver in the world could not purchase the salvation of a single soul. Our salvation costs no more than it cost 2000 or 4000 years ago. And the value of our soul is no greater than the value of Adam’s.
Inflation does not affect the requirement of man to obtain salvation. The price we must pay is no more today than it has ever been. God always has required faith and obedience. A careful study of Hebrews, chapter eleven, will show this to be true. Thousands of years ago, without faith, it was impossible to please Him, for he that came to God had to believe and obey Him. By faith, they obeyed whatever God told them to do. That has not changed. It will never change. By faith, we must obey what God has told us to do. In the first century the lost were required to believe in Christ, repent of their sins, and be baptized for the remission of sins in order to be saved. (Mark 16:16; Luke 24:47) Nothing has ever been added or subtracted. God’s second law of pardon does not require any more today than it required in the first century. Unfaithful Christians were required to repent, confess their sins, and pray that God would forgive them. (Acts 8:22; James 5:16; I John 1:9). No other requirement has been placed upon us with the passing of time.
Inflation does not affect the Christian’s life and duty. Believers had to live faithfully. (Rev. 2:10) So must we, and no more. They had to observe all things the Lord and His apostles commanded them. (Matt. 28:20) So must we, and no more. The cost of discipleship has never been inflated because, from the beginning, all that man had was required. (Luke 14:25-33) They needed to count the cost. So must we. They had to love the Lord supremely, more than any human being. So must we. They had to take up their own cross and follow Jesus. So must we. No greater burden is placed upon us than was placed upon them. Physically, our lives are much more comfortable, and most are blessed far more materially; however, they enjoyed the very same spiritual blessings that we do. Inflation will never affect salvation. Let us be thankful that it is as free as it has always been to those who come to Jesus on His terms. (Matt. 11:28-30)
-Richard