WAGES
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 6:23
A person labors as a construction worker, a doctor, a baker, a nurse, a policeman, fireman, clerk, but each of them has at least one thing in common—they get paid for what they do. The time, energy and expertise that each one invests are rewarded with a wage. In much of the world this wage is paid with money, but in many parts of the world this wage is paid with produce or livestock or some other commodity. But, the worker is paid wages for his work.
According to the verse above there is another type of wage that is being paid as well. This wage is paid because of the sin in people’s lives. It is a wage that is paid not with money or commodities of any sort, but death is the wage that will be paid for sin. Death— not just physical death, but spiritual death, a separation from God forever in the Lake of Fire. This is called the “second death” (Revelation 20:15). This is the bad news.
But the Good News is that God has done something about the bad news. The Good News is that God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to take the wages of our sin upon Him at the cross. “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world” (I John 2:1-2). We are told that Jesus “suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). Now this sets Christianity apart for all other world religions and false Christian cults. Jesus was our substitute taking the penalty for our sin that “whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). This is “the free gift of God” mentioned in the above verse that is available to anyone who will receive it. What is the gift? It is eternal life which only comes through Jesus. There is nobody else that has done or could do the work that He did at the cross as the only eternal Son of God. He is the only way to have eternal life. He is the only way we can be forgiven of our sin. He is the only way we can have a relationship with God (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
Have you received the free Gift of God— eternal life through Jesus? Then rejoice in knowing God through His Son, being able to serve Him now and then be with Him forever in Heaven after death. If you have not received the free Gift of God, then you will have to pay the wage for your own sin which is, as mentioned before, Death— not just physical death, but spiritual death, a separation from God forever in the Lake of Fire. This is called the “second death” (Revelation 20:15). May you receive the free Gift of God instead!
Dear Father, thank You for eternal life that comes through Your Son, Jesus. Oh, may many others come to an understanding of Who You are and What You have done for us that we could know You and serve You now and be with You in Heaven one day. Be pleased to work through me to encourage others to trust You. May it be so!