Bill Gates - Really Rich?

Surprise, surprise according to the annual rich list in Forbes magazine Mr. William Gates is still number one with an estimated wealth of 50 billion dollars. The magazine also reported that there are now 793 billionaires scattered across the world with the UK having 31 billionaires of its own. No doubt many people around the world envy the wealth that these men have gathered and continue in their lifelong quest to get what they can.
What a contrast to a little old lady, called Ruby, lying almost motionless in her nursing home bed. She is barely 5 stone in weight, is paralysed and needs constant nursing. Her small purse on her bedside locker all that is left of anything by way of financial wealth. She has no bank account, no house to call home, no health, few living relatives. Yet her face shines brightly though her body is twisted and knarled with the effects of disease. She is rich beyond Bill Gates' wildest dreams. She has wealth that will never perish, be corrupted or destroyed. Her billionaire status is in a currency from another world - it is measured in grace. Super abundant grace has been given to her by God. She knows and loves the Lord Jesus Christ. For Ruby her Saviour is her all together lovely one, the fairest of ten thousand. She knows forgiveness, acceptance with God, is a child in God's family - she is a Christian, converted to Christ as a little girl. And all her riches she took with her to her eternal rest when she passed from this world. For all eternity she will be overwhelmed by the riches of God's great grace towards her.
You don't have to win the lottery to get into this list of the really wealthy or do any stock market magic. The message of the Bible is really quite simple. The apostle Paul summarises it when He writes in II Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. God makes it clear in his Word that as sinful human beings, separated from God we are so very poor in the things that matter. In His great love however God's unique Son left the riches of heaven and came to earth and went to the cross so that the penalty for sin could be dealt with and the spiritually poor become rich. When a person turns from their sin and trusts in Christ alone to make them right with God a wonderful transaction occurs. All our bad debt towards God for sin is paid for by Christ and all the riches of His righteousness put to our account. What an offer - and it is all free. There is no small print. Simply Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Then you will be added to the real list rich with Ruby.