Mailing it in….

When I was a kid (circa 1977-85) I overheard a variety of telephone conversations, from a variety of people, that went sort of like this:

“Hello, yes this is Mr./Mrs. __________”

Caller explaining who they were and the intent of their call.

“You mean to tell me you haven’t received that yet?

The caller telling them the ‘according to our records’ or the ‘status of your account’ details. Then comes the classic ….

“Well I remember mailing it in!”

While this statement may or may not have accurately represented the truth, it was an easy reply based on the fact that in that day the mail took a few extra days when corresponding, especially across state lines.

This response would usually gain you a day or two of reprieve from the caller seeking payment. Normally this would be the perfect opportunity to make good on your statement, dropping the payment in the mail, resulting in the payment actually making it to the creditor in those two days.

There were those that did not have the payment ready and they receive a second call a few days later affirming the negligent payment. Again, we get the “mailing it in” excuse but this time it would have a bit of a change to it. Something like “Yes I am sure this time, I found it in the bottom of my purse and dropped it off.” Or “it fell off and went behind the counter.” Something to that effect.

The point here is that the person was not prepared, nor were they intentional in their approach, to the debt and its satisfaction. The question that comes to mind; Are we mailing it in with YHWH?

Imagine getting the “call” from YHWH …..

“Is this Mr./Mrs./Ms. _________ (insert your name here)”

“Great! This is THE ALMIGHTY and I was checking on your debt.”

What will be your response?

“Oh you haven’t gotten payment on that yet?”

Like the previous situation we know full well what the status of the account is….. in arrears. We are empty handed and owing.

YHWH will not accept the stance of “mailing it in”. “Mailing it in” is saying to YHWH that you went to church this week, or possibly that you donated to the church financially. There is even the possibility of saying to YHWH that you volunteered time to the needy. But what does that do to satisfy the eternal debt of mankind?

According to Matthew 7:22 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”

YHWH wants the true and everlasting change of heart that surrenders ownership back to Him. This is what is known as being born again. This transfer of ownership, via the purchase made through the shed blood of Yeshua, is what assures the redemption. This cancels the debt.

1 Corinthians 6:20 “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

So, now the question becomes what does it mean to “glorify God in your body”?

glorify = G1392 δοξάζω doxazo (d̮o-xa’-zō) v. “to render”

Yeshua tells us: Matthew 5:16-18 ^“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

Repentance, the true change of heart, requires we turn away from the actions of the world. No one ever addresses what it is we are turning towards! It is to be a life ‘rendered to’ the will of YHWH.

Matthew 19:17 “And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Are we living life within the will of YHWH? or are we just “mailing it in?”