Credit Challenge

How much do you owe?

Today’s Reading is Habakkuk 1-3 and Revelation 14

 

Death and taxes are inevitable, but something else is also unavoidable. It is a sure bet that all of the credit extended to us so that we might purchase what we cannot afford is going to come due.  This hard truth is more evident at this time of year than at any other. Our creditors are going to come calling at month’s end.

So it is with this world. It seems to unbelievers that there is no distinct temporal advantage to being a Christian. Many Christians also feel this way during times of trial. We still get sick, we still get hurt, and we still suffer tragedy. Habakkuk felt this way as he cried out to God: “…the law is ignored and justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore justice comes out perverted.” Habakkuk 1:4

The world goes on its merry way and worldly people worship the means by which God blesses them (Habakkuk 2:18-19). People worship their self-sufficiency, diligence, prowess, and smarts without ever acknowledging that it is God who has given them those things and countless others. For instance, no business transaction would ever succeed if God did not grant favor between people. He does this for the godly and the ungodly (Matthew 5:45), so believers might well ask, “Why bother being a Christian? I could stay home and watch football on Sunday!”

God challenges believers to live faithful lives of joyful hope, especially when it looks like we’re losing to a sinful world. God tells us the world’s bill will come due in the appointed time. Wait for it! (Habakkuk 2:3) The world is living on borrowed grace and God will demand payment. The cup of the Lord will come around to every person (Habakkuk 2:16). Those who are in-Christ will drink forever from His grace because it was paid for by Christ’s blood. Those who refuse Jesus will drink from the cup of God’s wrath (Revelation 14:10) because they owe what they cannot pay. They are living on borrowed grace and borrowed time.

Don’t despair, Christian…we are debt-free! Let’s share Jesus with others so nobody ends up paying their own bill.