I was shopping

for luggage last week in a local department store. The huge, fine piece

of luggage didn't have a price tag, so my wife and I took it to the customer

service desk to inquire as to its price. The kind lady looked at a marking

and immediately said, "$69." I said, "We'll take it."

Not 60 seconds later did she discover the price was really $199. But,

she added, "I'll eat the difference because I quoted you the wrong

price." I came back at her and said, "But, I wouldn't want you

to get into trouble." She came back, "I'm the manager. It's

okay." What was I to say except, "Thank you and bless you."

My wife and I left the store praising God for his favor to us.

Now you know

any preacher worth his salt reads out of such incidents divine insights.

So I am this Labor Day morning. You well may have your own insights.

Let's say you

go through life and collect a lot of luggage, a la sin, and come up to

the great check out counter in the sky to inquire as to price, a la penalty,

and the checker quotes you a price. You say, "I'll take it at that

price." But, upon examination, you discover you really have more

luggage, a la sin, than at first count. You, a good scout, admit the excess,

but the checker says, "That's okay. It's the same. I'm the manager."

Would you like

to read some good news? Well, for all your and my sin shopping, the bill

has been paid in full. Already! Seriously! You may have shopped at some

of the pricier places like the ex-Gold Club or you have shopped under

a bridge in southwest Atlanta. Your cart may be filled with abuse of loved

ones or what's called white-collar crime. Your purchases may have been

in secret on the Internet, a la porn, or it may have been in a public

parade down Peachtree.

The word has

been heard around the world, "In that while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us." Down through the centuries men and women from

all walks of sin have taken advantage of this free offer. The offer's

benefactor simply does not care how much is in your cart, "If we

admit it, he'll forgive it, because he's already paid for it."

Now is a good

time to come clean and get clean. There's a hint of fall in the air. The

long desired rains are cleaning the air and baptizing the earth. A new

school year has started. The church even now begins to plan for celebrations

of the birth of the sin buster.

Why not have

yourself a new beginning by admitting your cart full or even half-full

of sin. He has paid the price. Then, begin to live in the freedom of the

ecstasy of forgiveness.

The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor

of River's Edge

Community Church in Fayetteville.

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