It is an interesting selection. To be sure, given the fact that he was going to be king of God’s chosen people, I guess it is the wisest choice. From time to time, Soloman was given impossible decisions and quickly resolved them; for example, the two women and the baby. It is not only a wise decision but one that has been used down through the years in varied ways.

Now, no one has asked me what I want, but if God did, I would be a little self-centered in that I would want two gifts. Certainly, I would like to be just as close as I could get to God and still have my feet on terra firma. Well, I did say it was selfish. It would be very difficult for me to think of anything better.

The second choice would be to be the gift of healing. I have no disillusions. I suspect that maybe it would have aspects I cannot foresee. Jesus had the perfect power to heal, and they nailed him to a tree. Moreover, I know that any such gifts should not be used for me but to further the great news, what others call the gospel.

Once word got out that I could put my hands on a person and make them well, I would be, perhaps, the most well-known person on this planet. Almost anyone who makes it to their thirties have health problems. No parents want to see their child succumb to cancer. How many parents would love to see their child healed of some kind of crippling disease or injury.

I’m afraid that as soon as I hung out my shield, I would have a mile long line. As soon as it became known that I was for real, the line would become ten miles long. I don’t think I like that. I mean I would have no problem working more than an eight-hour day healing people. I’d love it. I just don’t think it would be the ideal way doing it. I would not like the side-show atmosphere.

I think it would be better if I go from place to place unannounced. I could visit the bed ridden and the diseased. In each case, I could say a word or two about who Jesus is and how he wants to save all people of all races throughout the world. I could explain how one must accept Jesus as his personal savior. For he is the only one who has that power to save. He does not impart it to any man. I would explain how he or she must have faith to be saved, for we ourselves have no such power to do it or add to it.

To the lame I would say, “Just as you had not the power to heal yourself, you have no power to save yourself. It is just as vein and pathetic to try to heal oneself of ALS as it is to heal oneself of the curse of sin.

Well, I don’t have the gift of healing and likely never will. Still, I can spread the great news of salvation. Sometimes I’ll be scoffed or ridiculed. Then too, occasionally, someone might understand and accept what the Bible says about it as truth.

Jesus himself said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” John 3:3. You notice how emphatic the words are. You notice there is not so much as one exception. So, it would seem, according to the spoken word of Jesus that there is simply no way around it. If you have not had a second birth, you will not see the kingdom of God. How much plainer can it be. How clear it is that it is most important to each and every one of us.

To Nicodemus at the time, heard Jesus likely spoke in Aramaic. To us, the translation is clear. Yet, millions will hear these words and ignore them, though they are some of the most important words ever spoken. The entire chapter of John 3 might be the most important words ever spoken by anyone. It would behoove all of us to read them and read them again until we can quote them from memory.

Soloman chose wisdom. If you have not been born again, the wisest decision of your life is to seek the salvation that has been offered as a gift by Jesus.

Incidentally, don’t even try to earn the gift. You haven’t the power. You definitely haven’t the authority. You can only make the choice to accept or reject it. Then, the instant you accept it, all your sins, past, present and future will be removed from your records. You will not be held accountable for them ever. That is what is called forgiveness and God alone has the power to forgive sin.