Yesterday, as I was pushing someone towards our wheelchair van, which is pictured on the right, he noticed a black hearse parked on the left side. He looked at me and said, “Gary, don’t take me to the black one; take me to the white one.”
In that moment, I thought about Romans 6:23, which presents two sides of the same coin: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The black hearse represents the penalty of sin. Sin always brings death and for those who don’t know Jesus as their Savior, it also brings the second death—eternal separation from God.
The white van, on the other hand, represents the second part of Romans 6:23: “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Just like a free ride we offer to church in the wheel chair van, heaven is a gift. It’s not something that can be earned; it’s freely given. When we pick people up for church, we don’t ask for anything in return. They get in, and they receive a free ride to church, where they can learn about God and salvation.
Many people have been saved while riding that van to church. They have grown in the Lord and some have gone from having a bitter spirit about their situation to having an uplifting spirit, wanting to help others learn about the Lord. The white van represents life, freedom, and spiritual liberty.
This simple moment served as a powerful reminder of the message in Romans 6:23. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. As we continue to pick people up and bring them to church, let’s remember the importance of sharing this gift of eternal life with everyone we meet, especially those who can’t help themselves.
