The National Association of Professional Organizers reports that the average American gets 49,060 pieces of mail in a lifetime. One third of it is what we call junk mail, unsolicited advertising. They also tell us that today's executives lose an estimated hour each day due to disorganization. Of paperwork that is filed away only 20 percent is ever used again. But the statistic that captured my imagination is the fact that a 12 foot wall could be built from New York to Los Angeles with the amount of office and writing paper thrown away each year! More than ten years ago, Ronald Reagan, then president of the United States, attempted to communicate to the public our growing national debt. He let us know that if we stacked dollar bills on stop of each other, the amount of our indebtedness would pile high enough to reach the moon.

The Bible tells that we have built an insurmountable and impenetrable barrier that has cut us off from the only relationship that can satisfy our longing hearts and give us freedom. As the prophet Isaiah said, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2). God is 100% sinless and has an impeccable sense of justice. He cannot look upon sin (Habakkuk 1:13). The Bible tells us also that "the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23). This wall of separation also represents our indebtedness to God's holy law. Under the law our sins deserve the death penalty.

Many mistakenly believe that they can pay their debt to God through good works. You cannot pay a death penalty in any other way but by death. The price for sin is death and unless the barrier of sin is removed we will be separated from God forever.

The good news is that Jesus offered to lay down His life on our behalf. "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1Peter 3:18 NIV). But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8).

We all had a sin-debt that was impossible for us to pay. But Jesus paid it all, crying on the cross, "Tetelestai!" (Paid in full! It is finished!) There on the cross, numbered among the transgressors, He was cut off from God the Father because He was carrying our sin. He was cut off so we would not have to be! God proved that Jesus' payment on our behalf was sufficient by releasing Jesus from the prison of death. The risen Jesus says: "I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." (Revelation 1:18).

When the Berlin Wall came down there were shouts of joy: "Freiheit!" (Freedom!) With the wall of our sin-debt broken down we are free to experience what we were made for - a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. To throw away the gift of Christ's role as Savior and His rule as Lord, is to be left with a sin barrier that will separate us from God and His people for eternity. If we repent, that is, turn from living in independence from God and trust Christ for forgiveness and eternal life, we can not only cry "Freedom" but enjoy it as He begins the process of restoring us so that we can fulfill our destiny as those who reflect His image and become active partners in His plan.

Have you acted upon what God has done for you today? Have you drawn close to God? Why not share this good news with someone today?

Good news is for sharing,