During the World War, a young soldier took out a government insurance policy to be paid in monthly payments in case of his death, and he named his father as beneficiary. The boy was killed in action and, without any difficulty, the father received the monthly insurance payments.
Before long, the father died and his widow, the soldier's stepmother, now sought to receive the insurance. There was plentiful evidence that she had fulfilled her duties as mother to the boy, had cared for him and nursed him when he was a child and into young manhood. She was worthy of the money, as far as her works were concerned.
But, in discharging its obligations, the government considered only one thing: who was the nearest BLOOD relative? The boy's grandmother proved to be his only surviving BLOOD relative, and to her the payments went.
Some thought the decision unfair to the good stepmother, and would have questioned the matter further. But the ruling was settled and final, and personal opinions and wishes could not change it.
Good friend, God has made a bequest to His own the greatest inheritance of all the ages even eternal life. How can you qualify as a beneficiary? I do not ask if you are honest and pay your debts, if you are a good neighbor, or if you are morally clean. No, that is not the important question for your soul.
The great question is: What is your relationship to Christ? ARE YOU A BLOOD RELATIVE?
"But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometime were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."
You see, friend, good works and clean living are not the question no mention is made of honesty and good citizenship. The recipients of God's favor had been "far off” and "without hope" but now are made nigh.
How? By the blood of Christ. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."
And how is this cleansing accomplished? Only by faith, dear soul faith in the blessed Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shed His blood on Calvary's cross to redeem us to God.