Preposterously Impossible Hypothesis #1: “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

You, like me, have heard it said a great number of times in your life, unless of course you lived among the socioeconomic stratosphere, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” It’s sentiment is echoed in other nefariously pithy remarks such, “pay your dues,” or “earn your keep.” And while the humble beginnings of this friendly little quip are most certainly rooted in good sense and sound practice—the truth of it is thin at best.

I use to practice eating free lunches on a daily basis. While on scholarship I ate a lot of “middle of the day” meals that didn’t cost me a penny. For that matter, I ate a lot of breakfast and dinner for free as well.

Ok, don’t buy it? Toss out the scholarship enabled consumption. There was always a campus ministry jumping at the chance to fork over some free grub. Heck, if you planned it out right you could snag a double lunch on some days.

But don’t let that fool you. This preposterously impossible hypothesis has little to do with our ingestion practices. It hinges more on our American made principle of earning things.

Don’t get me wrong, I am soundly patriotic. I love my country. I believe in working hard, not in hardly working, but there is a chief danger to be found within this particular train of thought—especially when we begin to allow this line of thought to enter our walk with God.

Think about it. Take this principle and try to apply it to your Christian walk. If you seriously did this, AND SOME OF YOU HAVE, you would be convinced in a very short time that salvation is something that you deserve—something you have earned. It is not, in either case.

Christ said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." John 6: 51 NIV

There is a key word there—GIVE. Not bartered, not traded, not sold. Given. Gave. Gift.

Hmmm. There’s no such thing as a free lunch? Preposterous.

Grilled Cheese As Proof for the Existence of God

The slighty browned golden crisp crust crumbles in a symphony of crunchy-buttery delight. Your taste buds descend upon the feeble frame of the delectable sandwich. Your incisors pierce the glorious boundaries as you are met with the heavenly flood of gooey golden goodness which breeches its breaded borders. Mmmmmmm.

Cheese sandwich, grilled cheese, hot cheese ... this delightful dish has taken many names. Many of those who enjoy it have probably named it something aptly appropriate for reflecting their appreciation of the joy it brings them. And why not? Few things so seemingly normal can provide such a wonderful treat.

Take a few regular household items from fridge or pantry. Whip them together. Give a little time, attention, and heat--Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo--the result is as grandiose a goodie as ever graced your gullet.

Who first thought of a grilled cheese? Where did they come from? Was it by happenstance or accident that ancient Babylonians drafted the original? Does it hearken back to the days of pre-history?

How could something so incredibly ordinary offer such sensationally amazing results? How did a multitude of millennial mishaps yield the unquestionably astounding result we now know as the grilled cheese sandwich?

Friend, if you can answer that I'll let you have my grilled cheese sandwich. Yum.