Paid In Full

Growing up in Halfway, MD, persons ‘hung out’ at a place called Poole’s Store. Part grocery store, part gossip-parlor, part pharmacy – Poole’s Store had everything: Hershey’s Ice Cream – Wonder Bread – Jujy Fruits – cream-filled donuts – and Muriel Cigars. Now I didn’t smoke cigars, but boy did I love the cigar boxes, asking the counter girls to save them for me, to use for all sorts of things! But the best part of Poole’s Store was the post office. Why we’d go there for stamps, envelopes, mailing labels -- but whatever we’d buy, the transaction would always end the same: why we’d give the counter girl some money, she’d give us our items and then prepare our receipt. But before giving us our receipt – the counter girl would grab a very large hand-stamp, plop into a pad of red ink, and then raising it in the air – plop the hand-stamp onto our receipt -- plastering three reassuring words -- across everything -- PAID IN FULL.

As you visualize the work of Jesus, visualize those same three words plastered across ‘everything’ Jesus sought to convey -- PAID IN FULL. For ultimately the message of Jesus is a message of consummation -- fulfillment -- utter completion.

But we find it hard to comprehend. Surely there is one more thing we need to do – think – be – or perform. But Jesus -- in all His fulness declares: no -- there is not one more thing you need to do – think – be – or perform. Everything’s paid up -- wrapped up – settled – in Jesus.

Are you settled? So many of us aren’t. But God wants us settled…at peace -- in Jesus. For you are complete – in Jesus. For in Jesus “…all things are held together… [For] through [Jesus] -- God chose to reconcile the whole universe to himself -- making peace through the…cross…” (Colossians 1:17-20, New English Bible). "…But be on guard -- do not let your minds be captured by hollow…man-made teachings…For it is in Christ [alone] that…you have been brought to completion…” (Colossians 2:6-10, New English Bible).

What a radical message! For I do believe there is one more things I need to do – think – be – or perform. But if completion is in Jesus – I need to incorporate that reality more deeply in my psyche...in my soul.

It's as simple (albeit difficult!) -- as that.