Almost Free?
When my daughter and son-in-law traveled abroad recently, they encountered the familiar chorus of street vendors at every tourist destination. Desperate to move their merchandise, these sellers would shout to passersby, "Almost free! Almost free!" The phrase "almost free" is clever marketing, but it reveals an important truth: "almost free” still costs something. Almost free means you'll need to reach for your wallet. Almost free confirms what we've always known—nothing in life comes without a price. My father's wisdom echoes in my mind: "There are no free lunches." From childhood, we learn that everything worthwhile must be earned through effort and payment. This universal understanding makes the Gospel message so revolutionary. When God extends His offer of salvation, He doesn't shout "Almost free!" from the heavens. Instead, He whispers something that defies everything we think we know about how the world works: "Abso...