Settled!

Settled!

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NIV

For every occupation, there is a wage structure. For every job that is set up, there is a settlement plan for how the job is to be remunerated. We hear of monthly jobs or contracts, as well as income from business. Whichever of these options apply to you, one thing is clear: for every action or input, there is a natural consequence or expected output. Just as it is in the physical, so is it in the spiritual. As I work in the spiritual, I am also entitled to a pay that reflects what has been put in. How does this apply to the verse that is the focus for today? 

The first man, Adam, and his wife Eve, were put in the Garden of Eden. They had all they needed, until the devil came and gave them what they did not really need. He lied to them, taking from them what was eternal, and gave them what was earthly, mortal and temporal. The devil took away the life of God they already had and gave them death. From God's perspective, the day Adam and Eve ate the apple is the day man died, even though he was still breathing. That is how sin came to be the natural progression for all men born of women. No matter who you are, the circle you are born into or the one you grow up in, the foundation and conclusion are the same: all men are born sinners, due to the act of disobedience of the first man and woman. 

By that first disobedience, sin has become the natural way of life for all men. Of course, the consequence of sin is death. It does not matter how long you live; could be as long as Methuselah or as short as a day old baby who dies immediately after birth. The end of all natural life is death. The sad thing is that this death is not just the physical one, but the one that is eternal. If we only lived for this earthly phase alone, we would not have to deny ourselves the good things of life. However, because we know what is at the end of this physical phase of life, we cannot live as we please. God also knows that we could not earn the life of God back by ourselves, and that is why he offered us his son as the way back to that life. 

True life is only found in Jesus. He is called the Way, the Truth and the Life. By him, the life of God is made real and is available to all who will come to God through Jesus. Now, this is where God's offer is unique: it cost God a lot, but it cost me nothing but a decision. I am not asked to pay a price or move heaven and earth to afford it. All I am asked to do is to accept the 'free gift' of life that is on offer. Sin will cost me a lot; God paid the full price so that the power and wages of sin could be fully settled. Someone had to pay the price; I couldn't. Jesus did. The price for sin has now been fully settled. It would be a waste of God's grace if I do not take advantage of this free gift. 

With all that Jesus has given me, what does he demand of me? Nothing much, just a heart that surrenders to him as my Lord and Saviour. I am not asked to offer blood or bring sacrifices. God does not need those things anymore; he needs my heart. That is the place where his work is seen first, before it impacts the outside. With all that God has also done, I can be sure that an account will be demanded of me of what I did with God's offer. God does not waste resources. If he gave me his all, he will also demand my all. His Son was the price for my new life; is there anything I consider too big to also give back to God? Eternal life is at stake; the key is total surrender to and full acceptance of the gift of Jesus that has been given to the whole world. Would you take hold of that gift? Would you surrender to Him? Remember, eternity lies at the end of your answer. Make it count. God's time of favour is here.