He was Ready to Pay!

By: Daniel Robbins - a Perfectionist

I was a young boy - and that was plain for all to see. After all, any man could see what I obviously did not... until now.

Now, I was at the checkout counter. Now, stark, cold, wet reality was introducing me to a mortifying fact: I did not have enough money for what I was trying to buy.

Oh! I had money - and, being the boy I was, I thought that that was all I needed. "I have money... I give that money to the lady... she lets me take the merchandise, and everybody is happy."

The problem was, I failed to realize that - again - I did not have enough money. Not - at least - until "now." Therefore, "now" was actually a terrifying and (as I said) embarrassing situation! What, then, did I do?

I suppose I did what any lost, little, frightened boy would do: I ran away with my bag of potato chips (or whatever they were) to put them back on the store shelf - crying and wailing as I ran.

The really painful part of that memory, however, is that the man in line behind me at the till tried to get my attention - tried to stop me. He called to me. He entreated me to look and listen. I did stop for a moment and looked back. I saw that he was standing there with the money in-hand; ready and willing to pay for "my" bag of chips (or, at least, it could have been mine).

I could not do it, though. I could not bring myself to go back. I was just plain too embarrassed - so I carried on to where I had found the chips, and put them back.

I mourn. I mourn - not because I missed out on a bag of chips. Not at all. There is something far deeper that I mourn. I mourn the fact that I could have ``saved face.`` I could have experienced grace and mercy. I could have cooperated. That man would have paid the price for me, I would have gotten what I wanted, and the cashier and that man would have been blessed. (Instead, they just had to watch me carry on in my folly).

I know I cannot go back and change my foolish actions back then - but I can sure prepare my heart for next time. Next time I am in a situation like that, I am going to stop, turn around, go back, and let the man pay for me!

So what if I have to humble myself! Do I not want my chips? Come to think of it, has very much really changed since that day? I trow (I.e. ``suppose``) not.

I still do not have enough money - only, this time, it is not just a bag of chips. I owe a lot more money than I have - and I know I am not the only one.

This debt, however, is actually - really - only symbolic! Morally speaking, in and of myself, I am really in trouble!

Therefore, with David (who definitely knew what it was to run up against “moral bankruptcy"), I pray:

O turn unto me and have mercy upon me: give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen (i.e. helped) me, and comforted me." (Psalme LXXXVI. 16-17)

Ye see (I.e. "You see"), when that man offered to pay for me, God was showing me a "token for good". I was just too scared, proud, and stubborn to receive it at that time. This time, however - so help thou me, God - I am going to thankfully receive it! How about the rest us us?

Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, was God's ultimate "token for good." I beseech you: receive Him by faith. He is standing there with his nail-scarred hands outstretched - ready and willing to apply his payment for sin to your account. He is alive from the dead, as a token of the resurrection power that will one day resurrect you and me to everlasting life, if we will but humble ourselves, come to him, and say, "OK." In other words, "Lord, I believe." (See the latter portion of John's gospel, chapter Nine).

That calls for worship!...
Hallelujah! (I.e. "Praise Ye the LORD!")