Unknown Benefits

A story is told of a young Irishman who once sought to purchase a boat fare to America, where he hoped to immigrate.

From his years of savings, he discovered that he had sufficient to pay the fare, but not enough to pay for his meals aboard the ship. However, determined to seek the opportunity for a new life, he booked his passage and managed to scrape a few cents together for a meager bag of cheese and stale bread to carry him through his long journey.

One evening during the first two weeks at sea, the Captain was walking the deck when he noticed the Irishman sitting near the bow eating his cheese and bread. "Why aren’t you in the galley eating supper with the other passengers?" asked the Captain.

The Irishman replied, "I regret sir that I only had sufficient funds to buy passage, but not enough to pay for meals."

The Captain looked at him curiously and said, "Son, didn’t you know that when you bought your ticket that your meals were included with your fare?"

Just as the Irishman didn’t realize that his meals were a benefit paid for in the price of his ticket, many Christians are unaware that Christ’s atonement on the cross paid for other benefits besides eternal life.

The psalmist said, "Don’t forget all the Lord’s benefits! He forgives all your sins, and also heals all your diseases!" (Psalm 103:2-3).