The Best Deposit Ever

Sunday - January 23rd

Scripture to Read Today: Ephesians 1:3-14

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When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:13-14

Patrick Combs' official title is "financial motivational speaker." Still, when it comes to money, he's really a social scientist, practical joker, performance artist, and subversive element all rolled into one. As a result, he's broken more financial taboos than most of us can imagine.

In the 1990s, Patrick received a $95,093.35 junk mail check. It was clearly an advertising gimmick. He decided to deposit it in his bank and see what would happen. Patrick's junk mail check surprisingly cleared due to a sequence of banking errors. The funds were put in his account, and Patrick spent the money before anyone noticed. He left the bank holding the bag.

Over the years since then, Patrick has traveled performing a one-man motivational monologue titled "Man 1, Bank 0." He says that bogus deposit changed his life in more ways than one. Blaming big banks for their incompetence, he says he feels no remorse. “All I did was deposit what looked like a check worth $95,093.35 - and it worked.” He blames financial institutions that he says are so bloated with processes, technology, and paperwork they make big mistakes all the time. Patrick says that they blew it big time with his deposit.

Patrick Combs' approach to ethics lacks a lot - to say the least. His deposit was a bogus one. It ripped off a bank. It was not a legitimate deposit - even if he got away with it.

God says the Holy Spirit is given to us as followers of Christ at the moment of our salvation as a deposit. He is the guarantee for our salvation now and through all eternity. “When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

The best deposit ever is the Holy Spirit's presence in the life of the believer. He guarantees us our place with God in Heaven someday. The first installment of our salvation includes the indwelling Spirit in our lives - God's presence with us. The final installment of our salvation will be when we step into God's presence with the Holy Spirit still indwelling us. At that moment, the guarantee will be complete in our presence with God forever.

As we walk with God in life, we can be assured that God's deposit is not an imitation or a trick. His deposit, our guarantee, is His Spirit in us.

Thank God for the best deposit, the best guarantee, His Holy Spirit's presence in you until you are with God!