There are consequences (results) to everything we do, and sometimes it’s really hard to do the right thing. Christians should ask the Lord Jesus to help them each day in what they do, because doing the right thing is not always easy. Mildred found this out the hard way.
Mildred was a young lady driving her car on the HOT, narrow, city streets of a big city. And wouldn’t you know? She got stuck behind a slow-moving garbage truck. The smell of the garbage in the back of the truck was really bad, and she was afraid it was going to make her sick. The longer she was stuck behind this slow, smelly truck, the worse she felt. Since her car didn’t have air conditioning, she couldn’t just close her car windows, because it was just too hot. At the same time, it was nearly impossible for her to pass the truck on the narrow street because of traffic coming from the opposite direction. Poor Mildred had a very “smelly” problem!
Finally, she could stand it no longer. She saw a break in the oncoming traffic, so she stomped on the gas pedal and scooted around the truck and took off into FRESH AIR AT LAST!
Just a minute or so later ... OH, NO! There was a car with flashing blue lights coming up behind her! The policeman had clocked her speeding, pulled her over and gave her a speeding ticket. Now she really felt awful! It was going to be hard for her to pay for a speeding ticket—they cost a lot of money.
A day or so later she went to the city court house to pay her fine. When she came up to the counter, she was so embarrassed because there behind the counter stood one of the boys from high school that graduated with her. He couldn’t believe that this “good-living lady” would be standing in front of him with a speeding ticket, and he laughed and laughed. But poor Mildred still had to pay that ticket. It would have been nice if he had been a real gentleman and paid it for her, but he didn’t. It was her debt, and she had to pay it.
Do you have a debt of sin that hasn’t been paid? If so, God will have to turn you away at the door of heaven, because no sin can ever enter heaven. However, He made a plan so that you don’t have to pay your debt of sin. But first, do you believe what God says in this Bible verse: “There is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:22-2322Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:22‑23))? God sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus, to pay the debt of sin on Calvary’s cross for any sinner—man or woman, boy or girl—who will truly believe that the punishment Jesus took on Calvary’s cross was for his or her sins. Another verse explains how this is possible: “The blood of Jesus Christ [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). And because He loves you so very much, He is willing to pay your debt of sin, so that you can be included with those who will be in heaven. Your name will also be written down in His book of life, and that is so very important!
Mildred couldn’t get help paying her speeding ticket debt, but you may have your debt of sin erased forever. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). If you refuse His loving offer, you will have to pay your own debt of sin forever in the most miserable conditions possible: “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:1515And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)). That should make your choice very easy.
ML-10/25/2015