349 MAY BE THE MOST famous number in Philippine history.

According to media reports, about 500,000 Filipinos each ultimately claimed P500 prizes. The embarrassing mistake has already cost the promoters an estimated P250 million. It has turned out to be the largest corporate payoff to consumers in Philippine history. Nakapasakit kuya Eddie!

They Called it Number Fever! . Millions of us collected tansans² for weeks. Each day, driven by the appeal of instant wealth, our families worked industriously to gather the tansans in hopes of becoming instant millionaires. None of us knew there were only 60 winning numbers. The odds of anyone becoming an instant millionaire were about 1 in 28.8 million. The chance of fulfilling our dream of instant wealth was almost impossible. Although the promotion began as a sincere effort to boost cola sales, it ultimately proved to be a nightmare for those involved. Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Within weeks the promotion had increased corporate sales from a 17 percent market share to a 24.9 percent market share. Success encouraged the promotor to extend Number Fever for five more weeks beyond the original campaign. That decision proved to be very costly. Naku, laking pagkakamali!

On May 25, 1992, company officials announced the winning number, 349 for the May 26 date. Within hours officials realized they had made a very serious mistake. They realized as many as 800,000 Filipinos could be holding the number 349 from the original contest. Adding to the confusion, the company tried to correct the mistake by announcing a new winning number, 134. But it was too late. The damage had already been done. Lagot! Huli na!

Eternal life is a free gift from God. LIBRE ANG KALIGTASAN! He contends eternal life cannot be earned or paid for by you or anyone else__ Walang bayad!

Later, as angry crowss gathered outside corporate offices to collect their prizes, the company president proposed a solution to the massive confusion. He made an offer of P500 to each of the winners, instead of the enormous amounts being demanded bby the claimants. The payoff offer was extended to claimants for only two weeks. Before the deadline expired, about 500,000 winners claimed their prizes mabuti na rin kaysa wala totaling around P250 million. Number Fever still remains a hot topic for many Filipinos who dream of collecting their free gift and living lavishly. Kuwarta na naging bato pa!

THINK ABOUT IT

For most people, ang maging milyonaryo ay panaginip lamang. The desire to have all the luxuries and lifestyle of corporate executives, movie stars and professional athletes are more hope than reality. In fact, experience tell us life can be very difficult, even cruel at times. Despite hard work and lengthy college and postgraduate studies, there always seem to be more days of hard work than days of easy living. Hay, naku! Hirap talaga ng buhay!

While experience may tell us there are no free gifts in life, the truth actually offers a more realistic alternative. In his letter to the Christians in Rome, St.Paul declared that there is hope for all sinners. That hope, according to the Bible, concerns a realistic and attainable goal. That hope is made available to us through God's free gift of eternal life. St. Paul proclaimed:

•••sin pays its wage death;but God's free gift is eternal life.

Romans 6:23

In that statement St. Paul informs us that the payment for sin is death. Yes he says we deserve death as the payment for our sin. Just like a worker deserves the wages he earns for his labor, we deserve death as the payment for our evil deeds.

St. Paul insists, on the other hand, that eternal life is a free gift from God. LIBRE ANG KALIGTASAN! He contends eternal life cannot be earned or paid for by you or anyone else__walang bayad!

Salvation• • • is not the result of our own efforts, but God's gift to us.

Although we deserve death and hell as the punishment for our sin, God loves us and provides a solution for our sinful life. Because God Loves us, He gives us the opportunity to receive salvation as a free gift.

Regardless of our good works, we cannot earn out salvation. Hindi natin kayang pagsumikapan ang kaligtasan! Salvation is God's free gift to us, if we are willing to have faith in Jesus Christ.

St. Paul was absolutely correct when he joyfully announced:

••• it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith.

Ephesians 2:8

Do you understand that statement by the Apostle Paul? Naiintindihan mo ba?

We are saved because of our good works. In other words, no matter how hard we work, we cannot earn our salvation. Hindi mo kayang pagsumikapan ang Kaligtasan! Salvation is God's free gift to everyone who receives Jesus Christ as their personal Savior through faith. St. Paul specifically warns us that salvation:

••• is not the result of our own efforts, but God's gift to us.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Please listen very closely to Paul's proclamation. St. Paul wants you to understand that eternal life is God's free gift you receive through your good works and good deeds, it is free gift from God__ Libre, walang bayad!

You have two choices__pumili ka!

• You can allow sin to control your life. Consequently, you will certainly die and face eternal death and judgment.

• Or you can allow Jesus Christ to control your life by accepting God's free gift of salvation. As a result, you will receive eternal life, and you will live forever with God.

Obviously, you should accept God's free gift of eternal life. You should not reject it because of your sinful nature and your foolish pride.

You may never win the lottery. You may never an instant millionaire through a bottle cap promotion. But you can receive the greatest gift ever given away. You can receive eternal life when you have faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.

Eternal life is an amazing truth, but it is free to you and me. Although it cost God His only Son, He offers the gift freely to you. Yes, I said free. Walang bayad, Libre!

PRAY ABOUT IT

Dear Father God, I want to understand your purpose for my life. I have difficulty understanding your free gift of salvation. I confess, I am a sinner. Please, Lord, do not allow me to believe I can earn my own salvation is free. Thank you for caring enough to die for my sins on the cross.

Have a nice Day!.

Enjoy Reading!

By: Orchidaceae

Thank you!