Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Perks. Those extra benefits to a salary or position that makes one’s work sweeter. Perks can range from in-store discounts to college tuition reimbursement to onsite amenities like car washes, haircuts, wellness centers and spas. My daughter-in-law is a blogger whose perks have provided beautiful clothing, makeup, free vacation lodging, even dog food! And I know someone who works a second job at a coffee shop, not for the salary, but for the health care perk. Turns out, 57% of job seekers consider perks a major factor in choosing a vocation.
But perks aren’t limited to the job market.
Scripture says the wages of sin is death. This “salary” carries its own perks. Those occupied by sin can look forward to having their lives marked with shame (Rom. 6:21). They get to become slaves to impurity and wickedness (Rom. 6:16). They don’t have to wrestle with the truth because they reach the point of no longer being able to discern truth from lies (2 Thess. 2:11). And as an extra bonus, they travel a wide path on their way to destruction (Matt. 7:13).
Thankfully, none of these perks are available to those who believe in Christ. In fact, he cancelled those “wages” completely.
For Christians, theirs is the gift of eternal life. It’s the perk of all perks. It includes freedom from the enslavement of sin and a ticket to holiness (Rom. 6:22). Amenities like love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control come with the benefits package (Gal. 5:22-23). Our beneficiary promises us the power to forgive, the ability to hope, and the security of knowing our loving Father. A life of meaning and purpose becomes available the minute we say ‘yes’ to his Lordship.
However, there’s a price tag on all these benefits. Romans 6 makes it clear the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has secured this life of unlimited perks. It’s pretty simple. Accepting his sacrifice means we die to the old life and embrace the new one. The one found in him. The eternal one.
It’s good from time to time to remember the vast array of undeserved benefits we have as children of God. Why don’t we take a moment to thank him again for a life of unimaginable perks.