A DEBT WE CAN NEVER REPAY
“What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people. ” Psalm 116:12-14 NKJV
The Holman Christian Standard Bible translation reads, “How can I repay the LORD all the good He has done for me? I will take the cup of salvation and worship the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people.”
The New International Version also reads “How can I repay the LORD?” We can all answer the Psalmist’s question: “We cannot repay!” Indeed, we cannot even pay the interest on the great debt we owe Him.
SOME OF THE BENEFITS THAT GOD GIVES TO US
1. Life itself:
“Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” Psalm 100:3 NASB
Often we take life for granted like it is something we own in our own right. The story, entitled “Chemo-Man” that appeared in the July 18, 2006 internet edition of the Sermon Illustrator pictures life in a far more accurate way. It is well worth taking the time to read…and reflect. The article is entitled “Chemo-Man”.
“The first close friendship I ever had began when I was fifteen years old. Chuck and I went through high school and college together, we double-dated together (and got rejected together); we were confidants and counselors and chums through every important event of life.
Several years ago Chuck called to tell me he had cancer. The initial prognosis was very good, although he did have to undergo difficult treatment. In typical fashion Chuck shaved his head before the chemotherapy began, covered it with glue, sprinkled it with gold glitter, and walked around the house in his underwear, calling himself "Chemo-Man."
Chuck and I lived more than two thousand miles apart at this time, but we talked every Saturday morning during the time he was undergoing treatment. The chemotherapy destroyed his appetite; he was unable to keep food down; he became so gaunt and emaciated that he was almost unrecognizable even to his children. At one point an infection set in, and his condition was briefly touch-and-go because the chemotherapy had so weakened his immune system. But Chuck pulled through, and eventually he completed treatment. Chemo-Man had prevailed.
A month later, Chuck had his first post treatment checkup. He called me that night: The cancer was back, the doctor told him, at levels as high as they had been before treatment. Being a doctor himself, he knew that the return of the cancer this strongly, this quickly, meant that he was going to die. It was a death sentence.
I was numb. When I went to bed that night, I couldn’t even pray. "It’s some mistake," I protested. "They’ll find out it’s okay." I marveled at how quickly denial sets in.
At 6:30 the next morning, Chuck called again. "You won’t believe this," he said. Someone in the lab had mistakenly switched his results with those of another patient, who had not yet even been through treatment. It turned out that Chuck’s cancer was gone and has not reappeared, these many years later.
"I’m going to live,” my friend said. "I’m going to see my kids grow up. I’m going to grow old with my wife. I’m going to live." For a few, moments we just wept on the phone like a couple of characters out of a Hallmark commercial. Chuck told me he was filled with a gratitude he had never known. He couldn’t stop touching his kids or hugging his wife. Things that had bothered him before faded into utter insignificance. He was going to live-and suddenly he did not just know intellectually but actually experienced the truth that life is a gift. We don’t earn it, can’t control it, can’t take a moment of it for granted. Every tick of the clock is a gift from God. Every day is a Dee Dah Day.”
Ortberg, John. Life You’ve Always Wanted. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002, p. 64-65.
2. A beneficent creation:
“The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:12
3. An illuminating revelation:
”Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
4. A personal manifestation:
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5
5. A spiritual organization:
"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
“And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47
6. A guaranteed destination:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,” 1 Peter 1:4-5
The Lord Jesus said “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:28). If the Lord Jesus ever gave you “eternal life”, rest assured you will have that life eternally!
In January 2000, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor. Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson’s disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, "We don’t expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you.” So he agreed. After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, "I’m reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punch-in the tickets of every passenger.
When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn’t there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn’t find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn’t find it. The conductor said, "Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it." Einstein nodded appreciatively.
The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket. The conductor rushed back and said, "Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don’t worry, I know who you are. No problem. You don’t need a ticket. I’m sure you bought one. “Einstein looked at him and said, "Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.’"
Having said that Billy Graham continued, "See the suit I’m wearing? It’s a brand new suit. My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are telling me I’ve gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion. You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I’ll be buried. But when you hear I’m dead, I don’t want you to immediately remember the suit I’m wearing. I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am ... I also know where I’m going."
7. A continuing presence:
Our Lord said, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” This validates for our lives the same wonderful promise God made to Joshua. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)
WHAT SHALL WE RENDER TO THE LORD?
1. “Take up the cup of salvation” (accept God’s salvation).
2. “Call upon the name of the LORD” (trust the LORD in every situation and live continually in the attitude of prayer and praise).
3. “I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people.” This restates the Psalmist’s vow recorded in Psalm 118:28, “You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You.”
The writer of Hebrews encourages us thusly, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Hebrews 13:15
