It was the first day of our annual golf outing and the ten men who had made this leg of the trip reached the course filled with the usual youthful anticipation that goes with playing a new course. We had all made arrangements to be off work and away from home for a few days. The plans included good food, genuine fellowship, and as much golf as we could squeeze into three days. One by one we visited the pro shop to pay our fees. It was then that we heard those five wonderful words:
"My Son has paid for your sins."
"It's been taken care of."

I have a couple of friends who are very kind and generous about inviting me to play golf at the club where they hold memberships. On more than one occasion I have gone into the pro shop to check-in and pay my greens fee and heard those five wonderful words: "It's been taken care of."

On the first night of our honeymoon, my new bride and I visited one of the restaurants in the hotel for a late night meal. Somehow the manager recognized us as honeymooners and sent a bottle of champagne to our table. We were shocked and quickly told them we did not drink and asked them to please take it back. (We were convinced it was a trick; and had we taken a drink, several spies from church would have jumped out from behind the counter and shouted, "Aha! We caught you!") When we tried to pay for our meal, the manager spoke those five wonderful words: "It's been taken care of." The manager wanted to do something nice for us. Since we did not take the champagne, he paid for our meal.

Once when we were a young couple struggling to make ends meet while I was in college, I went to the business office to make a small payment on my tuition fees. The lady in the business office shocked me when she used those five wonderful words: "It's been taken care of." My home church had paid my fees.

There have been many other times in my life when I have wondered how I would pay for medical care (vision, dental, or health) or where we would get the money for a home or automobile repair, only to be overwhelmed by hearing those five wonderful words: "It's been taken care of."

One day I will go before the throne of God wondering how I will ever pay what I owe. How can I ever pay for the freedom I know in Christ? How can I ever pay for the assurance that one day I will escape the confines of this earthly body and receive a new body? How will I ever pay for the blessings I have received in this life from my Father in Heaven? How will I pay the price for all the sins I have committed? The bad news is that I cannot. The good news is that I don't have to.

As I approach the throne to pay what I owe, knowing I have nothing to offer, I will hear the Father say those five wonderful words: "It's been taken care of." "My Son has paid for your sins. My Son has given His life and blood so that you could be free. My Son, my one and only Son, has gone the distance for you. My Son, lived, died and rose again to make it possible for you to know true victory and enjoy a home with me forever. My Son came back from the earth and has prepared a place for you."

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV)

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 6:19-20 NIV)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV)

"It's been taken care of."