Paid in full
I'd like to try and re-tell a story I heard this week. It is both inspiring and symbolic, pointing to a truth I consider very important.
The story begins when a little boy's happy family is devastated by his father's sudden death. The mother and siblings are swollen with grief as well and not sure how they will survive without this dear man who they all loved. They are thankful for the home where they lived as it had been a recent addition to their lives because of the father's hard work and planning for his family.
The young boy became aware that it took a lot of work to afford the comfortable things they enjoyed. His sisters had loved decorating their room with flowery curtains and their favorite posters and pillows! His mother had placed the furniture beautifully, adding rugs, framed pictures of the family and a lovely flowered center piece on their dining room table. He began to be concerned that they might lose those things and all the reminders of what his father had worked for.
So he decided he would mow grass and inquire about what he could do to help the neighbors and earn extra money to assure his family that the house would always be theirs. The next day he was able to land a little job after asking the lady next door if he might help her. She agreed to give him the job of weeding her flower garden and he happily skipped home with a pocket full of change! Another couple of days went by and he found another neighbor who gave him a job sweeping the porch and sidewalks around their house. Once again he tucked a few coins into a piggy bank on his dresser. He was delighted when the weekend brought him yet another bigger job mowing a small yard on their block.
One evening he asked his mother how much it would cost to buy their house. He opened the bottom of his piggy bank and his mother began to explain that the amount would be much more than he had. He realized his plan was not going to work. With tears in his eyes, he explained to his mother that he didn't think his efforts could ever assure the purchase of their house. It suddenly became clear to her what he had been working for and her heart melted. She pulled him close and with a long hug began to assure him he didn't have to worry. The house had already been paid for in full! His father had seen to that ahead of time! There was not one thing the little boy needed to do that had not already been done - except to receive it all with gratitude.
I did not tell the story word for word. It was told to me in much more detail than I can remember here. But the point is that this little boy was relieved to hear the truth when he recognized that his own efforts were not enough. My point in sharing this is that our efforts could never be enough to earn eternity, no matter how perfectly we live our lives! Our humanity will never be good enough to be perfect. It took a Father with a plan and a great sacrifice of Himself to "pay" the debt that would be ours. He knew that ahead of time and planned for redemption accordingly through His only begotten Son, Jesus. Jesus paid the entirety of the debt. His death bought our forgiveness and our lives. We can choose to move away from all He has purchased for us and try to earn our own way, but we can never earn what He has already bought. The reason is because Jesus was the representative of His Father and paid a price that only HE could pay!! None of us are God. We are simply His beloved children and He has always desired to offer us eternal security if we will but accept His offering!
In the story the little boy's mother scooped him close and told her son that it was ok! He did not have to pay that great debt! Our Father in heaven is also wanting to draw us close and tell us that the debt is paid! Accept what He so lovingly wants you to have. Reach out and take what your Father is offering. It does cost our commitment and dedication. But none loves you as does He - and what He offers is eternal! It is secure! It is forever! How can we refuse?
