Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

• Galatians 1:3-5

“Years ago King Charles V was loaned a large sum of money by a merchant in Antwerp. The note came due, but the King was bankrupt and unable to pay. The merchant gave a great banquet for the King. When all the guests were seated and before the food was brought in, the merchant had a large platter placed on the table and a fire lighted on it. Then, taking the note out of his pocket, he held it in the flames until it was burned to ashes. The king threw his arms around his benefactor and wept. Just so, we have been mortgaged to God. The debt was due, but we were unable to pay. Two thousand years ago God invited the world to the Gospel feast, and in the agonies of the cross, God held your sins and mine until every last vestige of our guilt was consumed.”

• Billy Graham, Day by Day with Billy Graham (devotion for 28 April)

Have you ever owed great sums of money?

Some people think that since God has forgiven us, we should not have the consequences of our bad decisions and sins, but the debt collectors do not see it that way.

I never had a debt that would require more than a lifetime to pay off, but then again, I paid the debt, most of it, when my parents passed away.  I paid the rest when I got a severance check when the company thought I needed to retire.  Other than presently having a car note, we are debt free.  Is there a nest egg in the bank for the here and now, since there is little future left?  No, not hardly, and what we have is 20% less than it was a month ago due to overpriced dental work.

Would I weep as the King did in Billy Graham’s story above if someone burned the marker for my debt?  I might just do that.

But Jesus paid the marker for my sins.  I can never pay that debt in ten lifetimes.  Shoot!  In ten lifetimes, I would sink further into debt in that regard.

I owe Jesus everything.  As Billy Graham says, we are mortgaged to God.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.