“He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2

Homeward bound, it was only 11 am. But I was hungry. Strangely, the principle hit me that it wasn’t lunch time yet, so I HAD to wait for another hour. But my stomach rebelled at that thought and screamed out… WHY?? It had a good point! Then I remembered, in my hunger, that Burger King OWED me… and BK was on the way home! So I pulled in and went inside to speak to the manager.

Last week I had a worker here and stopped off at BK to order some lunch. Getting home, the bag held THEIR lunch… but not mine! I’d been charged for both, paid for both, but only received 1 burger. Grabbing a slice of cold pizza appeased my hunger, but also reminded me to remember what I had paid for but didn’t get! Now that it was just a matter of appeal, I figured it as good a time as any!

Explaining the issue, the manager asked if I had the receipt, I didn’t… which wouldn’t have mattered anyway! If I was lying without a receipt, I could just as easily lie WITH one! Pulling out my business card I said, “I pastor a church and have no reason to lie. But I understand if you can’t give me the burger I paid for.” As he made the burger I paid for but didn’t get, I thought about the situation.

An old hymn came to mind, “He paid a debt He did not owe. I owed a debt I could not pay.” The price for sin (imperfection) is death. Literally a separation from perfect God… forever! And because God is just, He HAS to enforce the rules. Breaking or bending them would only make Him imperfect! The required debt MUST be paid, or appeased. Which is what ‘propitiation’ means. Appeasement! Which is what the manager of BK was doing on my behalf!

I thought about how silly this was. It wasn’t like I couldn’t afford to pay for another burger. But it was the PRINCIPLE of the thing that had me there. I paid a price for something I didn’t get. I had a right to at least ask them to give it to me. They had the right to decline my request. I appreciated the honor of the manager.

Jesus paid the debt I owed to His Father FOR ME… once and for all! Because He did, my debt was canceled…. finished! With no debt outstanding, have the choice to receive His free gift… or not!  But bacause I ASKED and received His payment on my behalf, I have also received His promise! Which makes me His Son… forever! Burger King’s new slogan, though kind of icky to me, does provide the principle for this message. I can either HAVE it HIS way… or BE my OWN way! But I can’t have both!  

Has YOUR debt to God been appeased? Or are you still doing things your own way? God is asking!