Imagine that you and your family are in financial trouble. It could be caused by sickness. You could have medical bills that are very high, or the main breadwinner out of work due to a layoff or fired or who knows what. It could be caused by just plain financial mismanagement. You don’t use your money wisely and buy things you can’t afford, and as a result of something you caused or caused by things out of your control, the result is the same. Your credit cards are close to being maxed out, your payments don’t even cover the interest. You are struggling to meet your rent, mortgage, and car payment and then notices start coming in the mail, almost every day. Your savings, and what little you had are gone. It feels like your money is just being sucked away.

Now imagine that one day while in the midst of this trouble, notices start coming in the mail from all the places that you have a debt. And all those notices tell you the same thing, the debt has been paid in full. Your credit cards, your car loan, your back taxes, your medical bills, and your mortgage, ALL Paid In Full!

What would your response be? You don’t believe it so you call all these folks and they confirm, it isn’t a mistake, someone has paid for everything. The thing you could not believe at first is true. Who would do such a thing? Your life has now completely changed. You can actually feel the weight of financial woes lifting off your shoulders. You feel not just relieved, but ecstatic!

What do you do now? Go out and spend again or try to keep yourself financially burden-free?

Diane and I are debt free. We owe nothing, no credit card bills that we don’t pay off each month, no coach payment, no car payment. It has taken us years to get to this point. Our situation reminds me of the old mortgage-burning parties folks used to have. For us, we are much better off than we have ever been.

We had help and we know where it came from, Diane’s father. We did not have someone pay off everything all at once but he left us something that allowed us to do so over time. We are very grateful too.

That being said, I can say that someone did pay a huge debt that we could never repay, over my whole lifetime, or over two of them if I had them. That debt has been pardoned. It is the debt of treason and treachery against the very one who created the universe. It is against the very one who knew me before I was in my mother’s womb. He made a way for me to be completely forgiven and then went further by adopting me into his eternal family. I am now a son and Diane is a daughter of the Most High King. Our Heavenly Father sent his Son to pay our debts. When we think about this payment made on a rough wooden cross, we are both ecstatic, joyful, and very grateful.

Psalm 32

Of David.

1 Blessed is the one
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord does not count against them
    and in whose spirit is no deceit.

3 When I kept silent,
    my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
    your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
    as in the heat of summer.

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
    and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
    my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
    the guilt of my sin.

6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
    while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
    will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place;
    you will protect me from trouble
    and surround me with songs of deliverance.

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
    which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
    or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked,
    but the Lord’s unfailing love
    surrounds the one who trusts in him.

11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
    sing, all you who are upright in heart!