On the banks of the river Mary in Queensland, Australia lived a "scrub" farmer named Sam.
He had lived a wild life― working hard, drinking hard, farming, butchering and doing other things by turns.
He had made a lot of money, but spent it as fast as it came. Drink had been his downfall.
Riding home through the bush at night he had had many hairsbreadth escapes. Again and again he had been thrown from his horse and dragged by the stirrup at imminent risk of his life. One morning following a night of carousing, he awoke lying head downward on the side of a waterhole, within a foot of the water, where he had been thrown some hours before.
But time did not pass lightly over Sam; and the life he had led took a heavy toll. At the time of our story he lay upon his bed, a human wreck, slowly dying.
Conscience, too, was beginning to make itself heard. His ungodly career rose up before him like a dark cloud, and the future filled him with dread.
Visiting him one day, a Christian who had served God for many years in Australia, said to Sam:
"Sam, do you know what a debt is?"
"Yes," said Sam.
"And what a receipt is?"
"Yes, I've plenty of them in my time, too."
"Well, let's suppose you were in debt and could not possibly pay. And let's suppose a friend came forward and paid your debt and gave you the receipt. Would you be afraid of your creditor after that?"
"No, the receipt would settle it anywhere."
"Your sins then, Sam, may be compared to a debt; and God demands satisfaction. Payment must be rendered to Him or you cannot escape hell."
"Ah! but can a receipt be had for that debt?" "Yes," said his visitor, and he read him Christ's parable of the Two Debtors: " 'There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both.' Luke 7:41, 4241There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? (Luke 7:41‑42).
"But, Sam, your debt must be owned; and you must acknowledge that you have nothing wherewith to pay," continued his friend.
"Sam, give up all attempts at compounding with your Creditor. Own to God that your debt is ten thousand talents― and your assets nothing― then, God says, you will be freely and frankly forgiven everything you owe."
"But the receipt, what's that?"
"Well, 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' His death, His blood is what paid the debt. Afterward, God raised Him from the dead, so declaring to all that He, the Creditor, is satisfied with the payment made by His Son upon the cross. Yes, God took Him up to heaven and gave Him a place at his right hand. This is the receipt, Sam― Jesus risen, ascended, and seated at God's right hand.
"The Holy Spirit has come down from heaven where Jesus now is, to testify that God is satisfied with the work of Christ. Furthermore, He has caused it to be written in this Book, the New Testament. This Book is like a written receipt. Any poor sinner who has owned to God his sin and helplessness, may hold this Book in his hand and say, 'This is my receipt!' It gives a sense of peace and security to his heart it― cannot lie nor change."
Sam grasped the truth as a drowning man grasps a lifebuoy. He believed and was at peace.
On his next visit, his Christian friend thought he would test Sam. He reminded him of his sins and of the holiness of God. He reviewed the impossibility of a sinner earning the favor of God. He pictured the hell that awaits all such.
Sam's quiet attention gave way to excitement, and raising himself on his left elbow, with his right forefinger he touched several times the New Testament which lay unopened on the visitor's knee, then he said: "Well, I can't read; but in that book you'll find that Jesus died for sinners." Then he fell back on his bed.
Happy Sam! He had the receipt and he held it steadily to the end.
His conversion to God stirred many, and his funeral in the bush was romantic. Farmers and settlers for miles up and down the river attended, their horses "hung" on the posts and rails of the fence surrounding the cemetery, or on the gum trees which grew within and without. Sorrowfully, reverently, the crowd of rough men stood as Sam's body was lowered into the grave, there to await the resurrection morning. His spirit was with Christ.
Reader, are your sins forgiven; is your debt paid? Be assured that what God did in grace for poor old Sam, He will certainly do for you. Do not rest until you can say from your heart: "My indebtedness to God is canceled by the blood of Christ, and in the unchanging words of the Gospel I have the receipt."