You will probably die with debt to your name. Most in our country do. It is nearly impossible to function in our nation's culture without it. Student loans, mortgages, car loans, credit cards and hospital bills are among the most common forms of debt held by Americans today. The figure averages out at about $38,000 per person, excluding home loans.
In such a debt-driven economy, many have the misfortune of incurring debts they are unable to repay. Words like bankruptcy, foreclosure, and collections hang over some like a black and heavy cloud, following them around wherever they go and darkening their outlook on the future. Outstanding debts can suck the joy out of life and weary one to the point of hopelessness and despair.
But what about when a debt that's been weighing on your shoulders for years finally gets paid off? Settled? Forgiven? There is nothing quite like the feeling of freedom that accompanies the erasure of a debt! The clouds part, the sun shines, and hope fills your outlook once again—hope for a better future.
In a parable about forgiveness, Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him a great sum of money was brought before him. This man could not repay the debt, so the king ordered all that he had—including himself and his family—be sold as payment. The servant begged for time, saying, "Be patient with me and I will pay back everything!" The master took pity on the servant, cancelled his debt, and let him go (Matthew 18:23–27).
In another instance, Christ was having a meal with a Pharisee named Simon when a sinful woman entered, anointed Jesus with perfume and washed His feet with her tears. Simon was put off by the woman's actions, so Christ said to him: "Simon, I have something to tell you. Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
"I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven," Simon answered. Jesus told him he had judged correctly, then proceeded to contrast Simon's lack of affection and attention with the sinful woman's extravagant love: "You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown." He then turned to the woman and said to her, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace," (Luke 7:40–50).
You see the truth is—whether you've taken out loans or made all your purchases with cash, whether your credit score is exemplary or egregious, whether you save or swipe—we all have a debt attached to our name we cannot repay. It is the debt of our sins. The Bible makes it clear: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23). All. Not just the exceptionally notorious. Even 'good' people fall short of God's standard because God's standard is perfection. And nobody is perfect!
Maybe this seems harsh to you. How can God demand perfection from imperfect people? It's not fair! But we need to understand God's reason for requiring perfection is not because He is a harsh God who takes pleasure in our despair, but because He is a good God who wants the absolute best for His children. And God's best is eternal life in heaven with Him. Think about it: Heaven cannot be heaven if we bring our imperfections along with us! If our debt is not cleared by the time we are called to account we will suffer eternal consequences.
We will never be able to repay God for our sins, the sum is far too great. But here's the good news: the King of heaven wants to settle accounts with you! In fact, even now the debt of your sins has been completely forgiven! God in His grace knew we did not need more time or better circumstances; we needed someone who could settle the score, someone who could pay our dues for us. We needed a Savior. God cancelled the debt of humanity on the cross of Christ—all you need to do is believe it.
As Christ told the sinful woman it is your faith that saves you, not your deeds. The woman's affectionate actions were the evidence of her faith, just as Simon's lack of affection was an indicator that he was comfortable with his religiosity, and neither saw his need for Jesus nor believed He was who He said He was. The woman knew her debt; she knew her imperfections. But she also recognized Christ's perfection in her place!
Imagine a ledger, if you will, with your name at the top. Listed below are all the sins you've ever committed: sins of anger, hatred, jealousy and lust. Every lie you've ever told, every harsh word you've ever spoken, every distasteful thought you've ever had. The list goes on for pages and even as you read it you realize it will never end, for tomorrow holds mistakes of its own. Nothing you could ever do would be able to clear your name—you are inescapably and eternally indebted.
Now imagine a blank ledger and at the top is the name of Jesus Christ. The Son of God owed no debt to His Father, yet because He loved us and took pity on us He took the sum total of humanity's offenses and transferred them to His account. And then do you know what He did? He paid it off. All of it. When Christ breathed His last, the word on His lips was tetelestai—a Greek word that commonly appeared on receipts, translated "paid in full." Humanity's debts were settled at the cross! Every. Last. One. And when you accept the free gift of salvation bought for you by Christ, your ledger is stamped "FORGIVEN" in the bold, red letters of His precious blood.
So how does your account stand? Has it been transferred to Christ by faith? Have you been freed from your deficit to enter into an eternal future in heaven? You may die with debt, but will you die cleared of the only debt that really matters? If you can answer 'yes' to these questions, if you believe with absolute certainty that Jesus died for you, then let the rest of your life be spent expressing praise, gratitude, love and affection to the One who paid your debt!
O Lord, thank You so much for paying my debt so that I can have eternal life! My praises and deeds of affection all fall short of expressing the gratitude in my heart and the joy in my soul for what You’ve done for me. Grow my faith and guide me in living a life that says every day, “Jesus paid it all!” Amen.
Reflection Questions
- What burdens of guilt and shame over sins past or present do you need to relinquish to the One who paid your debt?
- If you cannot answer ‘yes’ to the questions in the last paragraph, take a moment and read this passage: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:16–18). If you believe these words, take a moment and pray to the Lord asking Him in your own words to forgive your debt, save you and give you eternal life.