Good morning and a blessed Thursday morning to you.

Several years ago we were on a family vacation in the Midwest, and we were on a toll road. Being from out of state, and not having the toll tag for that state, there was a section where I needed to get over to the proper lane in order to pay the toll.  I made my best effort to get in that lane, but before I knew it, I was flying through the lanes designated for cars with in-state toll tags.  I didn't see any sign that said, “Well, if you don't have a toll tag, don't worry about it. We'll mail you the bill.”  There was none of that. So I wondered, being out of state, would I get a ticket or a fine? And so I took the very next exit off the toll road. At the bottom of the exit there was a toll booth. 

I confessed my transgression to the nice lady that was in the toll booth. I told her I couldn’t get in the proper lane and ended up going through the toll lanes reserved for cars having in-state toll tags. She listened to my whole entire confession, then handed me a piece of paper.  On the top of the paper it said “TOLL VIOLATOR” in big letters. I realized that I was not the first to have done this. 

She explained to me that being a toll violator, I have three days of grace. She underscored that again saying, “ Within these three days of grace you need to call this number.”

On the third day I called that number and explained to the nice lady on the other end of the phone, that I was a “TOLL VIOLATOR” and I was told that there were three days of grace. She confirmed that three days of grace was indeed correct.  She explained that if I paid the toll today it would cost me $1.75.  If I waited until tomorrow when I was out of days of grace, it would cost $12.75.  

Needless to say, I went ahead and paid the toll when I was in those days of grace. You see, payment was going to be collected for my transgression.

Romans 3:10-11, 20

 10 as it is written:

“There is no one who is righteous, not even one;

11   there is no one who has understanding;
        there is no one who seeks God.

20 For no human will be justified before him by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

Scripture reveals to us, that we are sinners. 

1 John 1:8

  8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

We are guilty, and we deserve to pay.  No sin is forgiven unless it's atoned for.  A penalty has to be paid.

Isaiah 53:6

6 

All we like sheep have gone astray;

    we have all turned to our own way,

and the Lord has laid on him

    the iniquity of us all.

When the Lord Jesus Christ went to the Cross, he took all of our sin upon himself… all of our sin in thought, word, and deed… what we've done, and what we've left undone. Jesus bore it all on the cross. And Jesus died in our place, bearing our sin, paying the penalty for our sin. Jesus satisfied the demands of God's justice. And we know that his sacrifice on our behalf was accepted because the tomb is empty.

The Bible tells us that the days of grace for us will end when the days he has allotted for each of us has come to a conclusion. When we die, the days of grace end. And at that moment, our destiny is fixed. Or, the days of grace will end for us if we're alive when the Lord comes again.  But either way, the days of grace will one day come to an end.

What should we do then in these days of grace? Proclaim Christ!  Proclaim the Glorious news that the payment for our sin has been accomplished through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Proclaim that glorious news that the tomb is empty. To proclaim the glorious news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, In these days of grace that we live in, may we proclaim Christ.

Heavenly Father, we give you thanks. Thank you for your Word.  Your Word is truth. Lord, we give you thanks that we live in the days of grace. We also give you thanks for the clarity that you give to us through your Word, that the days of grace will one day conclude. And so Lord, as long as you give us breath, may we proclaim Christ. May we proclaim the forgiveness of sins… the payment of the penalty through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord for the call that you give to us amidst these days of grace to proclaim Christ.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.  

God bless you this week. Encourage someone!

Pastor Eibel