Imagine that you, and hundreds of citizens like you, pick up today’s newspaper and find the following advertisement for Lowe’s on page 3:

- Free Kobalt Carpenter’s hammer (valued at $25) to the first 50 customers who come in the store on Saturday, January 26th. 

- Customer must present this ad upon entering the store 

- Limit one hammer per customer 

- Store opens at 7 a.m.

Question: Would it be possible for everyone within the local community, assuming they can read and understand English, to look over this very same grand opening promotion, and then come to the exact same interpretation?  Could we expect unity of understanding pertaining to this ad?  Consider:

* According to the ad, what is to be given away? When will these items be given away?  How many will be given away?  How many gifts can one customer expect to receive?

* What if a customer forgets to bring the newspaper clipping/ad with him when he enters the store on Saturday?  Will he receive a free hammer?

* What if a customer brings the newspaper ad with him, but is the 51st  customer through the door?  Can he expect to receive a free hammer?

* What if a customer brings the newspaper ad to Lowe’s on Friday April 25th, rather than Saturday April 26th?  Will he receive a free hammer?

* What if a customer brings the newspaper ad to Home Depot on Saturday April 26th, instead of Lowes?  Will he receive a free hammer?

* What if a customer brings the newspaper ad to Lowe’s on Saturday, April 26th, receives a free hammer, then immediately gets back in line again in order to try to get another one?

* What if the customer is the 14th patron to enter Lowe’s on Saturday, April 26th, holds the newspaper clipping in hand, at 7:01 a.m., and yet Lowe’s insists that he PAY for the hammer instead of giving it to him for free?  He might be inclined, and rightfully so, to go to the store manager and show him the newspaper ad.  Now, what if the manager glances over the ad and then simply replies, “Sir—that’s just your interpretation. We’re not giving any hammers away today. You’ve got to pay for everything in the store.”

Here’s my point.  Every thoughtful individual with the ability to read and reason logically can correctly interpret an advertisement. Assuming the customer goes to the right store, on the right day and time, armed with the right ad, and if you’re one of the first fifty customers, he can expect to receive a free hammer valued at $25.00.

Now, if hundreds of local citizens can consume the same information about the gift of hammers, correctly interpret what has been put into print, and then rightfully expect the same outcome, why can’t we also do the same thing with the gift of salvation (Romans 6:23; cf. 5:16)?

* Wouldn’t you agree that God is powerful enough to communicate so that all can understand (cf. 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Romans 1:16; Titus 1:3)?   Hasn't God communicated clearly in his Word how individuals might receive the free gift (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:12,13; Matthew 10:19-20) he offers?

* Is it possible for us to read God’s Word and correctly understand what He said (cf. Ephesians 5:17; 2 Timothy 2:15; Mark 7:14; Luke 8:11; Matthew 13:19, 23)?

Brethren and friends, don’t ever buy the false idea of “that’s just your interpretation” (cf. Luke 10:26; 24:25-28, 32; Acts 17:2-3, 11; 1 Timothy 4:13).

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“The measure of a person is not what he can find to criticize, but what he can find to appreciate.”

A man was being tailgated by a stressed-out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection. The tailgating woman immediately hit her horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection with him.

As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a cell.

After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.

He said, “I’m very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, waving your fist at the guy off in front of you, and swearing at him. I noticed the ‘Choose Life’ license plate holder, the ‘What Would Jesus Do’ bumper sticker, the ‘Follow Me to Sunday School’ bumper sticker and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car.”

Ouch! We are often eager to communicate our faith by putting cute little bumper stickers on our cars or by wearing jewelry that contains Christian imagery. And there's nothing wrong with that unless we think that the bumper sticker and jewelry can serve as a substitute for actually living a Christ-like life. Few people will be converted by a bumper sticker. But people WILL be impacted (and perhaps eventually changed) by a lifestyle that seeks to put God’s Word into practice. And, just as surely, people will be repulsed by a religion that allows the hypocrisy of talking about God without the desire to live for God.

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him.....Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works” (James 2:14, 18).

May Christ shine through you in what you do and what you say today (whether you have a bumper sticker or not).