Thought for the Month - September 2006

Free Gift (not just ice-cream!) - By Pastor Ian Wilson

The recent victory of Italy in the World Cup was unexpected considering their earlier performances. The match fixing scandals associated with major Italian clubs also cast a shadow over their world cup hopes.

One man who didn’t expect them to win was Damien Morelli from the famous Morelli’s ice cream family in Portstewart. The owners of Morelli's in the seaside town have been promising customers since the tournament began that, if the Italians won the World Cup , they would give out free ice-cream for one hour after the final whistle.

Damien Morelli said when they decided to put up a sign advertising the gesture; they did not think it would be this year.

Local papers reported that hundreds of people stormed Morelli's on Sunday night after the Italian victory. People queued on two sides down the seafront as Morelli’s made good on their promise after the victory. They kept the ice cream parlour open for an extra hour and a half longer than his original promise.

"It's fantastic, I'm over the moon with the result", Damien said. "We were extremely busy. We must have had queues of about 50 yards either side of the shop, and we think we gave away about 2,000 ice creams.”

The greatest victory ever in the world was not the World Cup or any other great sporting adventure. There is no military campaign that can compare with the greatest victory of all time. The victory I am referring to was the victory of Jesus Christ when he died on the cross and rose again.

1 Cor. 15:57 "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

From this great victory a free gift was also offered. This free gift cannot be compared with anything else Paul describes this gift as follows"

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord"

Eternal life is offered freely to all who will accept Christ as their saviour. The offer of free ice cream was available only to those who went along to Morellis at the stipulated time. I was in Morelli’s ice cream shop the next day after Italy’s victory but it was too late for me. Although a new sign declares that they will do it again in 2010!

When it comes to God’s gift of salvation you could leave it too late and miss out forever. Paul said. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” Let me remind you of the words from Hosea, “It is time to seek the Lord”.

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!