Paid in Full

By Brenda W. McIntyre –

When our first child was born, we didn’t have health insurance. My husband had changed jobs and a new insurance policy did not cover the pre-existing condition of my pregnancy. In anticipation of our new arrival, we talked to my doctors about a payment plan and began pre-paying the hospital.Finally, the long awaited for day arrived and Haley was born. Knowing we would continue paying out of our pockets for the delivery expenses, which now included an unexpected Caesarian-section, I was relieved when my doctor released me early. After two days in the hospital, Haley and I were allowed to go home.

Soon after we took our beautiful baby girl home from the hospital, medical bills began arriving in the mail. One from the hospital, one from the obstetrician, another from the anesthesiologist. In all, I had five separate bills totaling almost ten thousand dollars that I was struggling to pay. Every month I remitted a small amount of each balance. I was extremely grateful that the anesthesiologist cut his bill in half when he learned of my plight. Still, I owed him more than four hundred dollars. As the smaller bills were paid off, I was able to pay more on the remaining debts. After three years, I received the final statement from the hospital marked “paid in full.” What a relief it was to no longer owe those medical bills.

Through the years since my daughter was born I have acquired loans and other bills which I’ve paid off over time. Each time a bill is paid in full I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

Before I was even born, I acquired another debt, one I can never repay. Payment is not required, however, because Jesus has already paid the price. Jesus died on the cross to atone for my sins. Colossians 2:14 says, “He cancelled the written code with its regulations that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross.”

Jesus’ atonement is a free gift to all who ask him to be their Savior. Because his blood was shed, I do not have to pay for my sins. When I ask God to forgive me, He does. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Jesus was the sacrifice who took away our sins.