589. The Promissory Note

“One of my neighbors was over last night,” Stan began.  We got on the subject of the price of houses and how fortunate we are to be able to have a house.”

“I can sure relate to that,” I replied.  “The price of houses is crazy!”

Continuing, Stan said, “My neighbor told me the when he and his wife were able to buy their first house, they did not have enough money for a down payment.  They were making enough money to pay monthly mortgage payments, but they just didn’t have enough to get into a house.”

“If they didn’t have any money for a down payment, how did they buy their first house?”

“My neighbor said they were able to borrow enough money from his parents for the down payment.   He said his parents didn’t have a lot of money, but they were willing to help them out by loaning them some of their retirement savings.  But they wanted them to sign a promissory note to pay them back.”

“Well, that was really nice of them,” I said.  “Did they pay back the loan from his parents?”

“They didn’t have to,” Stan replied.

“Why?”

“This is the really great part of the story,” Stan said.  “My neighbor told me that one day after they had been in their house only a few months, and had made the payment to his parents each month, he got a letter from his dad.  With the letter was the promissory note they had signed.  On it was written, ‘Paid in Full’.”

“What was that all about?” I asked.

“It seems,” Stan replied, “that my neighbor’s dad had become a Christian and was so touched by what God had done for him in redemption, with Jesus paying the full price to reconcile him to God the Father, that he used the promissory note to share the good news of redemption with his son and daughter-in-law.”

Continuing, he added, “My neighbor said that with the promissory note, his dad had written a letter telling him about Jesus going to the cross.  His dad explained what Jesus’ redemption was all about for both sides of eternity.  That it was a free gift available by just accepting it.”

“The bottom line,” Stan concluded, “is that my neighbor’s dad used the promissory note to tell his son and daughter-in-law about something they had never heard before.  His dad’s letter made them curious and they looked into what Christianity is all about.  As a result, they, too, became Christians, accepting the free gift of God’s ‘Paid in Full’.”

“Use whatever you have to share the truth.  You never know who will be impacted for both sides of eternity.”

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Into Thy hand I commit my spirit; Thou hast ransomed me, O Lord, God of truth.  Psalm 31:5.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.  John 3:16.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.  Ephesians 1:7.

Prayer:  Thank you, Father, for the truth of your redemption, that Jesus paid the full price for me to be reconciled to you.  Thank you that I have the assurance of spending eternity in your presence when it’s time.  Thank you that you have stamped my life with your “Paid in Full.”  I thank you also that you have left me on this side of eternity so I can tell others the good news of your “Paid in Full.”  I confess that too often I do not tell others about that good news so they, too, will know the truth.  Please forgive all of my reluctance to share what you have done.  And please, Father, help me in following every step of your lead so you can and will use me to tell others of the eternal Good News!  Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Think on this:  Have you accepted God’s provision of “Paid in Full” so you know you are fully reconciled to God, both for eternity and for this side of eternity?  If not, why?  If yes, what does that look like for the rest of the time you have here?  Are you telling others that the “Paid in Full” is available to them as well?  If not, why?  What would it look like for you to do so?