Everyone loves a good rags-to-riches story. Whether it’s a professional athlete who came out of a rough neighborhood, or a successful businessman who grew up with no parents, we love to see people succeed against all odds. Interestingly enough, these types of people don’t go back and live in the lifestyle they came from, but instead, they remember the hard roads and what led them to where they are today.

As believers, we have our own story - we were dead in trespasses and sins, helpless and hopeless. In the Garden of Eden, Adam thought he could have privileges that God did not grant him. Therefore, he sold himself to the slavery of sin. In doing so, he mortgaged the universe for all of us - a death pledge that none of us could ever pay back. We were dead in trespasses and sins. We needed redemption out of bondage, out of poverty, and from death.

At the right appointed time, Someone came and paid that death pledge. Jesus, our Kinsman Redeemer, has made the necessary payment on our behalf. Just as Ruth had to go to Boaz and ask him to redeem her, we are in a time of grace when we must ask the Redeemer to redeem us. If you have never placed your trust in the finished work of the Son of God, I beg you to do it today.