Charge That to My Account!

I often have amazing conversations with my friend Jim and one was particularly remarkable. We’d just finished an Ellel weekend course in the Republic of Ireland and we were driving to Waterford, the home of Irish crystal glass, to check out a venue for a future teaching day. The driver of the car in front of us was leading the way, as he was familiar with the route.

Jim was sharing how extraordinary it is that God has truly paid the price of man’s sin. Together we’d seen the dramatic effect that this truth had had on someone during the weekend course. As we drove along Jim told me he’d read somewhere it’s as if God says to all those willing to believe in Jesus, “Just charge the cost of all your sin to My account.”

Paul also seems to reflect the heart of this Gospel message when he writes to Philemon about Onesimus, the former slave. He uses the same powerful expression: ‘charge anything that Onesimus owes to my account’. Jim and I pondered on this. It was the same as God’s offer to pay the full cost of our sin when we become His children. It came to us as a precious new revelation of a truth we’d known for a long time.

Then we arrived at a toll barrier to a beautiful bridge leading into Waterford, and I searched for the right change to give to the lady in the toll booth. But as I tried to hand her the money she simply said, “It’s been paid for already by the car in front.”
Jim and I were astonished. It was a totally unexpected example of what we had been talking about - God’s grace. That moment will always remain in our memory.

Prayer: Father God, thank You so much the price is fully paid. However much I may consider I need to pay for past sin, it’s been charged to Your account. I can move on, completely free of debt. Help me to receive the fullness of this wonderful divine pardon. Amen.