Why is it hard for someone who grew up with nothing to believe salvation is free?
Someone raised with nothing, who had to scratch and fight for every bit of food, finds free salvation hard to believe because life taught him everything must be earned or fought for. The idea that all of it can be his for nothing seems impossible, yet it must be believed to be received.
Les explains this through a young man in his Wilburton class who, from about age five or six, had no home life, no parents, and just made it on his own. After class the young man asked whether he could really have all of this free for nothing. Les said yes, but the man replied he could not believe it, recalling how he had to scratch and fight for every little bit of food while growing up. Les told him that until he believed it, he would not have it, and later hoped he had come to his senses that all of this is ours for the taking if we believe it. This illustrates the broader point that people can hear the Gospel and this book taught but remain unconvinced, saying they cannot believe that is all it takes.