Gale and I are nearing the completion of the projects that we started several weeks ago to spruce up our little house.  We have not done anything structural or fancy, just trying to improve the appearance of what we have. 

When I approach such projects I operate under the philosophy that most projects cost twice what you think and take three times as long to complete as you expected.  With that in mind surprises have been fairly limited and we did a pretty good job staying within budget and time allotments. 

I have to admit, it has been rather entertaining getting to use my orange plastic card numerous times in recent weeks, both in the store and while making purchases online.  That is, until my wife reported to me that in the daily mail was a bill for all the supplies we have purchased over the last several weeks.  Even though we knew the bill would eventually come, she seemed a little shocked as to how our financial obligation has swollen as we worked painting and doing other things.

No matter how frightening the bottom line is, it has to be paid.  The good news is that we had set aside funds to cover the entire obligation and I will pay it off and the account will be satisfied.  Although they offered me six months with no interest charged to pay for our purchases, I would rather settle up and be done with it lest I fall to the temptation to use the monies set aside to pay for our home project on other things.

Paying off a small credit account is one thing, but there is another account that has to be settled that none of us have the ability to pay off through our own efforts or resources.  That is the account of sin against God that we all owe.  The good news is that Someone has paid that debt for us.

If the credit card bill that Gale opened the other day showed the amount of our purchases, but was stamped in bold letters “Paid in full” our hearts would have been filled with joy.  Since that did not happen, we are required to take care of it ourselves.  Our debt with God to satisfy the sin problem that separates us from Him has been paid in full through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  How our hearts should overflow with gratitude for this immeasurable gift that He has made available to us.  Colossians 1:13-14 speaks of God’s great provision for us through Christ:  “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (New International Version). 

We are entering into the season in which we remember and celebrate the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ that makes it possible for us to have our sins forgiven so that we can enjoy the reality of eternal life.  This period of reflecting on Christ’s passion—His deep suffering for our sins—deserves to be taken seriously by us all.  As we journey through the next several days, we should be sure to give Him thanks for what He did for us as he went to the cross to die in our place.

As we remember what Christ did and give Him thanks, our greatest response to Him is to accept His offer of forgiveness and allow Him to have full control of our lives.  Sin’s bill is too big for us to pay, but Christ took care of it for us.  It is our part to receive by faith His generous and glorious offer as we bear in mind these words:  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).