Has Christ’s Payment Made You Thankful?

© 2021 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

Today, the nationally recognized day of thanksgiving has fallen on November 25th.  We become thankful for a day to enjoy good food with family and friends.  Certainly such gatherings deserve our thankfulness.  However, thankfulness experienced during these gatherings often seems to quickly fade upon arrival of the next day.

In exploring the nature of true thankfulness, it’s interesting to consider what the Bible says about un-thankfulness.  Consider the following words of God through the apostle Paul.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Romans 1:16-21)

Notice, that in the final sentence above, un-thankfulness resulted from rejection of the Gospel of Christ.  We find that God has righteous wrath against sinful man for which God has provided a remedy.  This remedy was accomplished by Jesus Christ paying the sin penalty at Calvary for all who come to Him.  However, proud, sinful man rejected the very idea that God exists.  By rejecting the existence of God, they rejected any sense of sin against Him.  This also eliminated their sense of need for His remedy (God the Son, Jesus Christ) whom they also rejected.  Hence, they became unthankful for that remedy “and their foolish heart was darkened.”

True lasting thankfulness must be centered around the Gospel of Christ concerning which Paul said, “I am not ashamed.”  Such thankfulness results from God’s enlightenment of a heart to His existence, His wrath, and His loving Son, the Savior.

On this Thanksgiving day, have you recognized that God’s view of you, as a sinner, is correct?  Have you called upon Him to be merciful to you, a sinner?  If so, your heart and mind will be overwhelmed with thanksgiving.  You shall be thankful that, though you are undeserving, God the Son, Jesus Christ, has rescued you from eternal wrath.  You shall bask in eternal thankfulness, anticipating your eternal future with Him.

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