In the United States, people with extensive debt can gain relief by filing for bankruptcy. Chapter 13 allows you to keep your assets and pay your creditors over an agreed period. Chapter 7 lets you to clear certain debts like credit cards and medical bills, but you may have to sell your home or other property to satisfy creditors. But how do we satisfy our indebtedness to God Almighty? The Bible is clear that God holds us liable for violating His righteous laws—whether we are willing to admit it or not. He is especially provoked when we rationalize our failure by calling evil good and good evil. We read this in Malachi chapter 2: You have wearied him by saying that all who do evil are good in the Lord’s sight, and he is pleased with them. You have wearied him by asking, “Where is the God of justice?” Rather than trying to rationalize our behavior by denying the truth of our sins, God offers to forgive us when we admit our failure and accept His Son Jesus as our Savior. If we reject or ignore God’s offer to forgive our sin debt, we’re left with no defense for our accountability to Him.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
