IN DEBT – YET DEBT FREE
A week after graduating from high school, I traveled with a friend of mine to Seattle, Washington with the intention of purchasing a fairly large amount of marijuana. We made the deal in an isolated park, when all of a sudden we were surprised by the security guards and held until the police arrived. We were arrested and placed in jail until a hearing was set before the judge. This was a scary experience for an eighteen year old, and all I could think of was how to get out of this situation. My friend and I concocted a lie saying that the drugs were not ours and that we had just happened upon the scene when the guards arrived. On the day we were brought before the judge, we were feeling quite cocky, having convinced ourselves that the lie would work on our behalf. Before the proceedings began, the judge asked us to read the formal charges. To my surprise the charges were based on marijuana found in my pocket and not on the drugs found on the ground. I was faced with the fact: I was guilty!
There was nothing left to do but plead guilty and ask for forgiveness. My parents were present, as was a lawyer they had arranged for my defense, but with a guilty plea, what I needed was mercy. The judge called for a private conference with my lawyer and in a few minutes returned with his decision. The charges were dropped. I was forgiven and free to go. In a moment I was debt free to justice, yet indebted to mercy.
Jesus told the story of a servant who was indebted to his master for a large amount of money. The debt was so large, that, in his life time, it would be impossible for him to repay it. He, along with his family and possessions, were about to be sold as slaves in payment of the debt. The servant fell on his knees, before his master, and pleaded for mercy and forgiveness. The master had compassion on his servant and forgave the entire debt. Jesus told this story to illustrate the depth of God’s forgiveness toward us as undeserving sinners.
As sinners, we all are debtors to God’s justice. Our debt is so great; there is nothing we can do to repay it. Justice requires punishment and payment for sin. In His mercy and love for us, God sent His only, begotten Son, to pay our debt for us. Jesus’ death, on the cross, satisfied God’s justice, because the wages of sin is death. Through the shedding of the innocent blood of Jesus we were forgiven of our sins. Because of Jesus, we are no longer debtors to His justice, yet we are debtors to His mercy and love.
Take a moment and consider what you owe to God’s love, for He gave His Son to die for you. Or, what you owe to His power that raised you from sin’s torment and death. Or, what you owe to His forgiving grace, that even after failing thousands of times, He still loves you and keeps you. Consider what you owe to his unchangeableness. Though, you change continually, He has never changed. We are free from the debt that condemns us, yet so much more indebted to His great attribute of love. We have been forgiven much; now we can love Him with all our heart. Each day we live by His grace. Each day we can marvel in His great love for us.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Romans 8.12-17; 13.8; Col. 2.14; Luke 7.41-50; Mat. 18.21-35