A well-known physician had died. His widow, in trying to collect the money owed her husband, found that he had written in his record book with red ink across many names the words, “Forgiven; too poor to pay.”

When she brought the book up to the courthouse, the probate judge asked:

“Madam, is this the handwriting of your husband?”

“Yes, sir, that is his writing.”

“Well, then, it will have to stand.”

“Forgiven; too poor to pay.” Those words have been written over the name of every soul in the world who has come to the foot of the cross asking for help. Nobody that ever has been born has been rich enough to pay the debt of sin charged against us. It is a debt that we ourselves can never pay.

By H. M. S. Richards

Source: Signs of the Times, Copyright (c) November 3, 1931, Pacific Press. With permission from Dale Galusha dalgal@pacificpress.com