Moments of Life Membership

Puffing and panting at the end of a set I looked up at the newly hung plaque on the wall of the gym. It commemorates life members of the social club at my workplace, giving them life membership to the gym and to the social club itself. I pondered for that moment about the attributes required of life membership.

The instinctive sceptic in me, without much thought I must say, saw these people as self-appointed and self-promoted, yet I almost instantaneously recognised this thought had not come from the Spirit of God residing in me—it was marked for me (from a best friend) that it’s the spirit of sarcasm straight from the world and Satan himself. I was being duped, yet I recovered it by adhering to God’s silent whisper and gentle imagery.

When I had chastened myself for such a thought I then allowed God to open my mind and heart to their many collective years of thankless work within the club that supports the employees of the company I work for. Praise God for a turn around.

Then I was led to think of the broader concept of life membership. I immediately contrasted the work, time and effort required in qualifying for one life membership versus the sheer transaction involved in another life membership.

By Christ’s obedient death on the cross, we “earned” life membership to the halls and very court of God—entrance to the kingdom of heaven—access all areas. And this, before we were even conceived!

We receive this member’s certificate as a sign written on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). There’s no works we can bring to enhance the deal. What’s more, this life membership makes other life memberships we’re honoured with throughout life very ordinary in comparison.

Yet it’s most bamboozling that the vast majority still treat the Lord our God with contempt in refusing this resplendent honour, blaspheming him in the process. Notwithstanding, his magnanimous grace is even more propounded in having his incomprehensible gift thrown back in his face.

Those of us who call the Lord our God—living for the better part in accord with his will—know the most treasured and meaningful life membership; our names are on that Plaque of all plaques in heaven called the Book of Life.

This moment of life membership—the transactional moment of accepting God’s offer of salvation—is indeed that… a moment that now endures through eternity.

© S. J. Wickham, 2009.