Are you happy with your wages? Do you feel you’re being fairly compensated for the hours you invest in your job? How differently would you answer if I changed the last question to, “Do you feel you’re being fairly compensated for the hours you invest in your sins?” 

Maybe you haven’t cashed that paycheck yet. But what about when this life is over? 

Usually we think of “wages” as being a positive thing. Something we look forward to receiving.

But look at how Romans 6:23 (ESV) describes wages: 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Every sinful act has a penalty. Other verses in the Bible also say that sin’s payoff is death, including Romans 6:16, Romans 6:21, and James 1:15. If this is true, wouldn’t it be tragic to face eternity wishing we’d made more of an effort to heed its warning?

When we die, the moment our earthly life ends, another life – rather, a continuation of our life – begins. We don’t have to die in our sins. And we don’t have to miss God’s free gift of salvation.

There’s no way we can earn our way to heaven or say enough prayers to be allowed in. As I write this, I’m praying that you’ll truly understand how much God loves you. He sent His only Son to die a horrific death for your sins. 

His love is so incomprehensible – yet so real. 

So magnificent – yet so personal.

When Jesus was scourged (whipped with leather straps containing bits of metal and animal bones), His back was ripped to shreds. He was thrown onto a ragged wooden cross which cut into His raw back. As bad as that pain was, it couldn’t distract Jesus from the agony of the spikes being driven into His wrists and feet.

Jesus hung on the cross for hours, struggling to breathe. He had to lift Himself up by pushing against His spiked-swollen feet thus scraping His gaping back against the torturous wood of the cross – over and over again just to get a breath. 

Lift. Scrape. Breathe. 

Lift. Scrape. Breathe. 

Lift. Scrape. Breathe. 

Until the hour came when He declared, “It is finished.” And indeed it was. 

Jesus’ death paid the penalty for our sins and restored our relationship with our heavenly Father. (Talk about a gift!) All we have to do is believe He died for our sins. Then, for the rest of our lives, every single day of our life, our resurrected Savior invites us to trust Him to give us the power and will to overcome sin – and to come to Him for mercy when we don’t.

Bringing It Home:

You can use a pseudonym (fake name) when commenting.

• We’ve earned a fair wage for our sins — death. But Jesus stood in our place to accept the paycheck for us. For you. 
• Will you accept the priceless gift, eternal life, He offers in its stead?

If you’re reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Today Can Be Different online and leave a comment. If you would like to subscribe to this blog and receive the most recent post to your inbox, see sidebar! There’s no charge for this service. AND, I’d be tickled if you would consider sharing this post 🙂