There is a large personal debt that every person has incurred which must be paid in full. This debt is of far greater significance than any mortgage, credit card debt or student loan. How we handle this debt will determine our future welfare, so the utmost care should be exercised when dealing with it.
This personal debt is the debt of sin before God. Each one of us has incurred this debt when we have sinned and done things which were displeasing in His sight. The Bible says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). There are two ways of dealing with this debt.
The first way to have it paid is to repent of our sins and to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ — the Saviour of sinners. On Calvary’s cross, the Lord Jesus suffered, died and paid the terrible debt of sin for all those who would believe on Him. “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3).
His death can put away sin because of who He is. He is both God and man in the same person. As man He could suffer death. His death has infinite value to cancel the debt of sin.
When the Lord Jesus was crucified, cruel men drove nails through His hands and feet into the beams of wood. Then the cross was pulled upright. Arms open wide, the Lord Jesus was lifted up between heaven and earth. But it wasn’t only the nails that held Him to the cross. It was also His love to lost sinners. He knew if He didn’t come and die in their place, there would be no way for them to escape the debt of everlasting punishment their sins deserve. God the Father’s love is deep and measureless in giving His Son to die for sinners. The same love that brought the Lord Jesus to the cross is in the world today, calling sinners to return to God and believe on Him for salvation. Do you know how much you are loved? This much — Christ Himself died in love for you.
Your Personal Decision
You have a personal decision to make. Will you believe on the One who loved you and gave His life to save you? I hope and pray your answer is “yes.” Christ Jesus is a personal Saviour who can put away the personal debt of sin each person owes. He is willing to do this the moment we put our faith in Him. “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)).
The second way to deal with this debt is as dark and dismal as the first way is full of light and love. Those who die in their sins, who have never come to Christ for forgiveness, will pay for their sins in the darkness of hell. The intense sufferings of hell will never cease. “If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:47-4847And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:47‑48)).
If you are reluctant to believe in hell, please consider the following three truths. First, the Lord Jesus spoke more about hell than any other person in the Bible. The One who taught men to love their enemies and to turn the other cheek spoke plainly and with great force about the suffering of the wicked in hell. Second, consider that sometimes people suffer intensely over long periods of time in this life. If people suffer in this life, why should anyone think it impossible to suffer in eternity? And third, in a very real sense, it is not God who chooses that people go to hell. People themselves make that choice when, in the hardness of their hearts, they refuse God’s offer of grace, love and salvation. Somebody once said, “Those hearts must be harder than iron and stone that will not be softened by Christ’s love.” Won’t you let your heart be softened by His love and come to the Saviour?