Universal Fears
Wages

Scripture: Romans 6:23

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

</em>The definition of wages is “payment for work done.” Employers normally insist that their employees’ paychecks cover the past week or week’s work – seldom would they prepay for expected work. The idea is obvious. A person gets paid after he has accomplished his task and those tasks are inspected to make sure they are done satisfactorily.

In our scripture today, the Apostle Paul refers to wages. According to Paul, people will earn a death wage if they continue to sin. When they stand before God at Judgment Day, it will only be a matter of inspecting their life’s journey and giving them what they have earned. Mankind was living in great fear because none were righteous – no not one! Thus, all of us were earning the wages of death… eternally.

God stepped into this horrible situation and looked beyond our faults and saw our needs. In His great mercy, He sent His only begotten son, born of a virgin; living in the flesh and dying like a criminal, all to pay the penalty of our sin.

Please note – the Apostle Paul only uses the word “wage” in reference to our sin – not in reference to God’s act of mercy. There was only one word to use for God’s amazing act of mercy; it is a gift. It is not a wage that could be earned – only a gift that must be received. That gift of God destroys the fear of death and brings security to every believing person!

Father, your gift is too amazing to ever understand. I simply receive it and praise you for it. In Jesus’ Name, amen.