Friday 6 March, 2009

Economy
UK

By Charles Gardner

‘Money can’t buy me love’, sang the Beatles in the heady days of 1964 when they took the world by storm. And it is also true that money can’t buy God’s love which is unfortunate for moneybags Charles Saatchi, the marketing guru now married to Britain’s domestic goddess Nigella Lawson and who has admitted in an interview with The Times that his fascination for modern art is not really about culture. Asked whether his collecting was more about money than the message, he replied: “My dears, money is the message.”

He did, however, confess to being “just a sad kid who wants to find a new sweetie”, but the final question of the interview was the most revealing: “What is the one thing you now really wish you could buy?” And his answer: “My way into heaven.”

Quite apart from the fact that, with the Bank of England now effectively printing money in a desperate attempt to prop up an economy in dire straits, money is hardly a guarantee of security even on earth at present, a passage to heaven is certainly the one thing money can’t buy. And perhaps Mr Saatchi knows it.

And yet there was a shameful time in church history where people hoping for a place in heaven were sold ‘indulgences’ – a little less time in purgatory, in some circles taught as a place of purging in preparation for paradise, in exchange for payment to priests. It was the spark that ignited what became known as the Reformation which saw Martin Luther and others restore the original concept of heavenly access by faith alone, through the grace of God, as taught in the New Testament.

It’s good that Mr Saatchi wants to go to heaven – where the Bible teaches that there will be no suffering, pain or death – but the price has already been paid by the Jewish Messiah, Jesus, who took the sins of the whole world on himself when he died in our place on the cross of Calvary outside Jerusalem 2,000 years ago. He was the ultimate fulfilment of the Passover Lamb, sacrificed annually by Jews over the centuries in accordance with God’s instructions.

You do not earn, buy or win a place in heaven. It is a free gift from God for all who will put their trust in Christ – and that is the only condition. You need to acknowledge the cleansing power of the blood of Christ – just as if you would have to admit that soap would have no affect on you unless you applied it.

Luther – and the world – was liberated by the biblical truth that we are saved by grace, though faith – “and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no-one can boast.” (St Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians)

And Jesus said: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

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