What's your balance in the bank of heaven?

Does it ever seem like the credit card payments are going to eat you alive? Have you ever felt like you are working for the mortgage company or car dealership?

Sometimes debt just seems to creep up on us, but there is always a reason for the debt. Perhaps you have spent too much on a nice, new car, when a used one would have be okay. Maybe you chose to rent a larger an nicer house than you could afford.

Spiritual debt is similar. There is always a cause, and the cause is sin. Each and everyone of us, like a compulsive spender, have sinned from the day of our birth. The consequence is that we have a debt of sin, and cannot go to heaven.

Debt in this life can be a terrible thing. It eats away all that you work hard to obtain. It drives you along with little hope of getting out. How much more terrible, then, is our spiritual debt?

You can escape physical debt by refinancing mortgages, getting reduced credit card rates, or careful budgeting. All these things are difficult and time consuming, but will eventually get you out of debt.

Spiritual debt, on the other hand, is far more serious and devastating. Romans 3:23 says "For the wages of sin is death". God takes sin seriously - so seriously that He will not allow even one small sin into heaven. The debt must be paid in full - and no one can pay it.

What?!? you say, I'm a good person, surely God would count my good works as payment. Romans 3:10 answers: "There is none righteous, no, not one:" the Bible also says: "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;"

What can we do then? Are we all condemned by this sin debt forever? Without payment of the debt, yes. But God foresaw that we could not do anything to merit heaven, so he provided an alternative. He came down to earth in the form of a man, Jesus Christ. He took the payment of my debt and yours upon himself. All we must do is accept His free gift.

What would you do if Bill Gates offered to pay off all your debts and provide for all you future expenses? Would you refuse and say "look here, Mr. Gates, I can pay my $1200/month mortgage, $650/month car payment, and buy all the groceries I need just fine by myself, after all, I am making $5.75 an hour part-time". Isn't that ridiculous? I know many people who say that to God though - please don't be one of them.

How can you get your spiritual debts paid for? The Bible says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31). Notice it does not say believe about the Lord Jesus. It says "Believe on the Lord Jesus." This is the difference between acknowledging Jesus as Savior and depending on Jesus as your Savior. This is also the difference between hell and heaven. Jesus said, "He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life" (John 6:47). It is not depending on Jesus plus yourself, good works, or baptism. It is a simple choice to depend on Jesus to save you from sin and hell. Like a child simply trusting his father by jumping into his arms, jump into the open arms of Jesus, and trust Him to save you.

Will you accept his free gift of salvation? Will you put your dependence on Jesus alone today, and receive the forgiveness of all your sins (past, present, and future), credited righteousness, and eternal life which can never be lost? Jesus wants to save you now. He will save you if you depend on Him. So will you decide to depend on Him as your personal Savior right now and become a recipient of the payment of all you spiritual debts? If so, sincerely pray:

"Lord, I admit my problem of sin. I admit I deserve the penalty for sin, which is hell. But I also realize that you are my full payment for sin. The best I know how, I depend on you to save me from sin and hell right now. Thank you for forgiving all my sins, crediting your righteousness to my account, and giving me eternal life. Amen."

If you have just made this choice to accept Jesus offer to pay your sin-debt, the Bible says that heaven is rejoicing. Let us rejoice with you, too. Please contact us, and we will be glad to give you help and information on living this new life in Christ.