American Express had an advertising meme that was used for years. It’s still used today. It was dropped by American Express, but tons of people picked up the phrase. “Membership has its privileges.” Comedy clips, Facebook reels, and late-night monologues often use it as a “punch line.” The original ad implied that if you were fortunate enough to qualify for this status-symbol credit card, you were also qualified for exclusive perks and rewards.
I can’t help but make a connection to our relationship with God. Because of Jesus Christ’s finished redemptive work on the cross, we enjoy benefits exclusive to true followers of Christ. Maybe the first and foremost is eternal life. One of the inevitable things we all face is death. Christ gives us life. John 3:16. Also, we can enjoy knowing the meaning and purpose of life. We receive the forgiveness of sin and freedom from the power of sin with the guilt that accompanies it. We have the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and care for us. We also get placed within a caring community, the Church.
Sounds like a pretty significant profit margin. If you’ve never trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior, you might want to consider Him. After all, membership (a relationship with Jesus) has its privileges.