OLD JEANIE PERKINS ran a small grocery shop in the little village where she lived. Many of the neighbors around purchased their weekly food supplies from her and a good number would buy on credit. Old Jeanie had never taken bookkeeping in school, but she had a system of her own which served her well enough. She would carefully mark up on the back of her shop door what each customer owed her. There in white chalk, as well as upon her memory, was written the name of each purchase with the exact amount owing beneath it. Name and debt were stamped together upon the old lady's mind, and only full payment could cancel and erase the name and marks upon the door.
According to God's Word debts must be paid, and long ago in the land of Israel no breaking of this law was allowed.
Those who did not pay what justice demanded were with their children sold for slaves, until by labor they had worked out the claims against them.
Now God demands full payment for the debt of sin. In our days some have light thoughts of sin and hope they will get off easy. On the other hand how many there are who think that, like Israel's bondsmen of old, they can work to cancel out their debt of sin, and relieve themselves of the prison house of hell — that terrible place which awaits all those whose sins are not forgiven.
There was one young girl named Emmie who often shopped at Old Jeanie's store and she was burdened with the load of her sins. Not knowing the gospel she began to feel that her sins could never be erased from God's book, and that unless they were blotted out she must be lost forever. She mourned over her state, and saw no way of escape until the old shop door with the debtors' names upon it was used by God to enlighten her as to the blessed truth of the gospel.
"Why do you mourn over your sins, Emmie?" said a Christian friend to her one day. "Why do you not believe what God says to those who really desire forgiveness? Has He not told us that the debt is paid for all who trust in the blood of His Son? Suppose you have some debts marked up against you on Old Jeanie's door; I go and pay them all off, and she rubs out the chalk marks against you. The next time you go to her store she shows you the marks are all gone. She is satisfied; wouldn't you be satisfied too?
"Just so it is with the terrible debt of your sins, for which you have nothing to pay. If you believe in Jesus, God is satisfied, for His beloved Son has suffered on the cross all that sin deserved at the hand of God. Not one sin is left against the names of those who believe, for Jesus has paid the price of them all in His blood, and God has blotted them all out."
God used this simple illustration to set poor dear distressed Emmie free. Thus she entered into peace, and she rejoiced in the glorious news that "Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."
May this same precious truth set you free too, dear reader, if you are burdened about your sins. Trust in Him who shed His blood that good and gracious Friend who unasked by you paid the terrible debt of your sins so that now you might be "justified from all things."
Memory Verse
Messages of the Love of God 3/9/1975