Old Man With A Cabin

An old man owned a narrow lot with a dilapidated cabin on it. Others lots in the neighborhood were selling for fabulous prices as the city was growing and new developments were in construction. One day a millionaire came along and saw the possibilities of this little lot, so he sent his agent to but it.

The poor man quoted what he thought was a tremendous price for the property. Without hesitation, the agent said, “Very well, I’ll buy it.” “When do you want possession” the owner asked.

“Oh, in about two weeks we’ll be around with the papers. Here’s a thousand dollars to bind the sale.” The old man was delighted. “I’ll fix things up,” he planned.

“If they think so much of my place, I’ll certainly make a few repairs.” So he worked almost day and night for almost two weeks painting the cabin, doing a little remodeling here and there, putting in new panes of glass, replacing the linoleum where it was worn, replacing several places in the ceiling, and cleaning up the yard. At the appointed time the millionaire and his agent brought the papers to the old man to sign. The old man was so nervous he could hardly hold the pen.

Nothing was said about the improvements that had been made, so finally he said: “You see how beautifully I have fixed things up. You have a nice place now, and I hope you will enjoy it here.” “Oh, replied the millionaire, I didn’t buy this place for what it is, but for what I’m going to put on it.

I plan to bulldoze this house and build a new one.” That is how it is when God justifies the ungodly.

It is not because of what he finds in us, but because of what he is going to do with us. He calls us by His grace. He saves ungodly people not because of what he finds in them, but for what He is going to make of them as they “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord.”

They put their trust in Him, then they are justified from all sin, then the sanctification process begins.